SAN MARCOS, Texas –  Texas State softball was able to make a statement 9-1, five-inning run rule to open its series with Troy on Friday night. With two home runs, including a two run homer from Anna Jones, the Bobcats were able to get its 6^th run-rule win of the season and improve to 31-8 on the year.

Anna Jones led the team with her two RBI, while adding two runs on the night as well. Sara Vanderford and Hannah Earls each had two runs as well in the 9-1 result. Piper Randolph also had two RBI off her hit tonight.
 
Jessica Mullins started in the circle for the Bobcats and tossed 4.0 innings and striking out three batters.

The Bobcats return to play the Trojans tomorrow, April 6 in the second game of a three-game series. Game two will start at 2 pm inside Bobcat Softball Stadium. All three games of the series will be on ESPN+. This will also be the Bobcats first "Senior Night" of the season as the Bobcats honor graduating seniors Karsen Pierce, Claire Ginder and Anna Jones.
 
What Head Coach Ricci Woodard said: "We did a lot of things well, we put the pressure on them to make plays. That's one thing this team does really well is force teams to make a play to get us out. This was a good sign for the direction we're headed in for the weekend."
 
What Center Fielder Piper Randolph said: "Coach Woodard is big on playing one game at a time. Not looking at the past and just being where your feet are. I think that we definitely utilitzed the momentum we had coming from the Baylor game, but it was time to move on. Every team we're facing from here on out is a team that is going to apply pressure, so we have to be sure we're playing the best ball that we can play."

How it Happened
Mullins started in the circle for the Bobcats, giving up her lone hit in the four innings she pitched to Taylor McKinney. She wouldn't allow another hit the remainder of her time in the circle, and struck out three batters in the process.

The Bobcats came out a little sluggish in the first inning, but Randolph was able to get a bunt single and advance to second when Jones walked.

When the Bobcats came up to bat, though, they found their stride. JJ Smith led off the inning and hit her fifth home run of the season for the opening run. She'd score the lone run for the Bobcats in the second inning, giving them a 1-0 lead.

Texas State broke the game open in the fourth, starting with a leadoff hit from Hannah Earls. She stole second and advance to third on Randolph's sac-bunt. Ultimately, Earls scored on a fielding error by the Trojans first basemen.

Next up, Jones hit the second home run of the night to score Vanderford and put the Bobcats up 4-0.

To score the final run of the inning, Karmyn Bass scored on Zarate's at-bat, getting home while the Trojans forced an out at second place.

Mullins struck out two in the top of the 4^th to bring the Bobcats back to back.

Earls led off with a single that she'd advance to third on a throwing error from, and she'd score on a ground out from Randolph.
Vanderford was walked, but she too would go on to score off an error by the Trojans second baseman during Jones' at-bat. 
Jones scored on Bass' single up the middle for the final run of the inning.

In the top of the 5^th the Trojans held off the run rule with a solo homer to left center. 

However, when the Bobcats came back to bat, Sydney Harvey scored on a throwing error by the Trojans pitcher after Randolph put the ball into play. 

Texas State came away with the 9-1 win in five innings and improve to 31-8 on the season, 8-2 in conference play