SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State softball won its 7^th conference series of the season after finishing its Friday night come-from-behind win with a 5-4 score line. Texas State now sits with a 41-13 record on the year, 17-6 in conference play after battling back from giving up three runs in the first inning and an hour-long weather delay to win 5-4.
 
The winning run came off the bat of Kat Zarate, pushing the Bobcats from down 3-2 to up 5-3 with a three run homer in the bottom of the 5^th inning. This was the sophomore's 7^th home run of the season as she reached the 30 RBI mark on the year. Zarate was also responsible for the opening RBI for the Bobcats, a single to right that scored Piper Randolph.
 
Jessica Mullins came in to pitch after the first inning and put in six innings of work allowing five hits, one run, walking two batters and striking out four. She would earn her 27^th win of the season, improving to 27-7 on the year. 

What Head Coach Ricci Woodard said: "That was the biggest thing, I was proud of the way we handled the adversity of the day. To come back and be able to win a ball game like that puts us in a pretty good spot for tomorrow."
 
What Second Basemen Kat Zarate said: "We just have confidence in each other to be clutch in big moments. Having confidence in each other and just passing the bat [helps us hit well]."

How it Happened
It was a rainy game throughout the seven innings inside Bobcat Softball Stadium, but especially in the first. Maddy Azua started in the circle for the Bobcats and, while dealing with some steady rainfall, gave up an RBI single and loaded the bases. After an hour long weather delay, she gave up two more runs before escaping the inning.
 
Texas State got two runners on from walks in the bottom half of the inning, but no Bobcats were able to score runs.
 
Mullins came in in the top of the second. She gave up a single and a double but got out of the inning with no runs scored. She struck out one batter and walked another before helping turn a double play on a quick play to knab the ball out of the air and make the play at home. From there, Karmyn Bass threw to JJ Smith at first base for the second out, escaping the inning with no runs given up.

After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 4^th, the Bobcats took that momentum to get themselves on the board. After a walk, a Smith single, and another walk loaded the bases, it was Zarate's first RBI on the night. She singled to right field to score Randolph.

From there the Thundering Herd made a pitching change and got one strikeout. It wasn't enough, though, as Hannah Earls batted in a runner on her single to left field. After four innings it was a one-run ball game.

In the 5^th inning, the Bobcats were able to flip the game on its head, primarily thanks to a three-run homer from Zarate. Her 7^th on the year, she had the lone hit of the inning after Bobcats reached from an error, a fielder's choice and a walk. Her home run would be the final of the game for the Bobcats.

The Herd were retired in order in the 6^th inning. In the top of the 7^th, they were able to get a double to left and a walk to put two runners on. Ultimately they'd pull back a run on an RBI single, but after a pop out to second base, Zarate called game with the out.

Texas State will return to action tomorrow, Saturday May 4, at 1 p.m. in their final home game of the season. Following the regular season finale, the Bobcats will stay in San Marcos as Texas State hosts the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The tournament will run for four days from May 8-11 with tickets available for purchase at txst.com/tickets.