HATTIESBURG, Mississippi– Texas State softball started its road trip off with a statement 12-1 win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. After a nine-run first inning saw the Bobcats have a comfortable lead early, they got their ninth win of Sun Belt action.

Azua tossed the complete game while allowing just one earned run. That, paired with four Bobcat batters having multi-hit nights as well as four RBI from Keely Williams and three from Aiyana Coleman pushed the Bobcats to a 12-1 win.

How it Happened: 
The Bobcats came out swinging in the first inning, putting up nine runs on 10 hits and two errors. It all started from an Erin Peterson single up the middle, From there, Bailee Slack laid down a bunt single. Keely Williams and Aiyana Coleman followed them up with singles of their own to score the first three runs. From there, Ciara Trahan was walked.

Karmyn Bass cleared the bases on a single up the middle and scored herself after a defensive error from the Bobcats. Following that up was an RBI single for Sydney Harvey who scored Kate Bubela. Back at the top of the order, Peterson had another single to keep the inning going. 

Williams then single through the right side for 2 RBI, scoring Peterson and Harvey. That would be the final score of the first inning, with the Bobcats ahead 9-0.

Southern Miss got on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from their lead off batter.

Neither side added any runs in the third inning, but Azua had four strikeouts through the three innings.

The Bobcats were retired in order in the 4^th, but Azua preserved the lead with two strikeouts, adding her fourth and fifth on the night.

The Bobcats were able to find three more runs in the top of the 5^th to push the run-rule lead even further. It started out with a single from Harvey and a walk from Slack, they'd both score on a Williams 2 RBI triple. 

Coleman batted in the final run of the game on an RBI single to left field. She made it a 12-1 game.

Texas State is now 26 -12 on the season, and 9-4 in Sun Belt play.

Up next:
The Bobcats will continue the series at Southern Miss with tomorrow's game at 5 pm in Hattiesburg. The Bobcats will close the series at 12 pm on Sunday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.