COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas State Softball will advance to its first regional final since 2003, just the third time a team has reached a regional final in program history. Despite a loss to Texas A&M to start the day, the Bobcats sealed their spot in the final with an 8-4 win over Penn State.
 
Due to the double elimination style of the tournament, the Bobcats will have to win two games against the Texas A&M Aggies tomorrow to advance to Super Regionals. The first game will be at 2 pm, with the finale at 4:30 pm. 
 
The Bobcats win came courtesy of a lights-out offensive day from the Bobcats, highlighted by a grand slam from Piper Randolph to cap off the 8-4 win. That, paired with a two hit, three run and three RBI day from Sara Vanderford propelled the Bobcats to the victory. 

What Head Coach Ricci Woodard said: "Hats off to Penn State. What a great season for them, they battled their tail ends off all the way tonight, even through the end. I never felt at ease. Even going into the 7^th. That's just a tribute to them and what a great ball club they've put together this year. Hats off to my team second, beating someone five times in a single season is really tough. Seeing someone five times in a single season is really unbelievable. The grit that we showed just keeps popping up."   
 
What 3B Sara Vanderford said: "Penn State showed up different today. Their pitching was completely different than yesterday, which made it a little tough. But sticking to our game plan, we've beat them four times so why change it? We just had to show up, show out and get it done."
 
What CF Piper Randolph said: "They came out and they had fight. Every team at this point in the season is going to be good and have a little extra fight, that's what the postseason is all about. It was just about sticking to our plans and doing what we're doing, that's what's going to carry us over. The game doesn't know who is supposed to win, just knowing that from the jump start and just playing our kind of softball is what helped us win five times against Penn State."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In the first game of the day, it was a close affair all the way through. Texas A&M was able to get it's lone run of the game in the 1^st inning off a Trinity Cannon sacrifice fly that allowed the Aggies to take the lead. From there, the Bobcats actually outhit the Aggies 4-2 on the day but were unable to bring in a run.
 
Jessica Mullins tossed the complete game for the Bobcats, allowing just two hits on the day. The 1-0 loss was the first loss of the season for the Bobcats against teams in the tournament field, and forced the Bobcats into an elimination game where they faced Penn State for a 5^th time.
 
Maddy Azua started in the circle for the second game of the day. She'd toss 3.2 innings, including one strikeout in the second.
 
The Bobcats first got on board in the third inning from a RBI single from Vanderford. Anna Jones followed that up with an RBI single of her own that'd score Vanderford. 
 
The Bobcats held the 2-0 lead until the bottom of the 4^th when the the Nittany Lions sent a three run bomb over the left field fence. From there, Tori McCann came in to pitch. She'd get out of the inning without allowing any more runs by Penn State.
 
In the 5^th inning, Texas State found their lead again. Starting the inning with a single to left by Earls, she moved to second on a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt by Makayla Hall. Earls would score on another RBI single from Vanderford. Texas State tied the game on the RBI single and took the lead on an RBI single from Randolph.
 
The Nittany Lions didn't have a response, and Randolph hit the insurance grand-slam in the 6^th inning. After loading the bases from Emilee Baker reaching on a fielder's choice, and Vanderford being intentionally walked and Jones reaching on a fielder's choice, it was all Randolph. She homered to left field for her first collegiate grand slam to make it an 8-3 game.
 
Penn State put up one run in the 8th to make it a four-run game, but it wasn't enough. Texas State would go on to win and advance to Sunday's regional final with the 8-4 win.