HATTIESBURG, Mississippi –  The Bobcats suffered a 9-3 loss to Southern Miss on Friday night.
 
Highlighting the night, though, was a 2 RBI home run from Sara Vanderford which was the 39^th home run of her career. The third inning homer tied the record for the most home runs by a player in their career at Texas State.
 
The Bobcats will return to play tomorrow at 2 pm against Southern Miss in the second game of the three game series.

How it Happened

Hannah Earls started things off well for the Bobcats with her traditional leadoff single. She stole second on Emilee Baker's at-bat. When Sara Vanderford and Anna Jones were walked in back-to-back plate appearances, the Bobcats had loaded the bases. They'd go on to strand three runners, though, after JJ Smith hit an infield fly and Piper Randolph struck out swinging.

In the bottom of the 1^st, the Golden Eagles forced the Bobcats into a tough spot after back-to-back Bobcat errors allowed the home side to get a run on the board with no outs. From there, a single would score a second run for Southern Miss. Jessica Mullins started in the circle and was able to get out of the inning without allowing a third run. She'd strike out two runners in the bottom of the 2^nd.

In the top of the third, Baker led off with a single to left. That's when Vanderford would hit the home run, her 39^th of her career. She now is tied for first in the all-time record books at Texas State in her career. She'd tie the game with the two run homer.

Southern Miss added two more runs to the board in the bottom half of the inning, though. After capitalizing on two well-placed hits that went down the third base line, they were able to score two off that. After three innings the Bobcats were at a two-run deficit.

Southern Miss' Hannah Borden would hit a solo homer in the 4^th inning to make it a three-run game.

Baker would again lead off the top of the 5^th inning, this time with a triple. She'd go on to score on an Anna Jones sac-fly.

The Golden Eagles put up four runs in the bottom of the 5^th, though, to seal the game for themselves. Scoring off two hits and an error, the home side was able to solidify their lead headed to the 6^th inning. The Bobcats were retired in order at the top of the 6^th inning.

Despite a walk and Vanderford putting the ball in play in the 7^th, the Bobcats were unable to pull back and more runs and were handed the 9-3 defeat to open the weekend.