Last weekend the Bobcats went 3-1 in the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic with their only loss coming to UTEP by the score of 8-0. The Bobcats would avenge this loss with a 7-0 win the next day as Jessica Mullins pitched the first perfect game for the Bobcats since Randi Rupp did it in six innings in 2018 and the first seven inning perfect game since Katie Garnett did it in 2008. The Bobcats had an RPI of 19 in the first rankings of the season.
There are still tickets available for the series and can be purchased by clicking here.
Texas State (17-6) and Penn State (15-2) have faced each other two times previously with the Nittany Lions winning both games. The last time they met, March 8, 1991, the Nittany Lions walked away with a 6-1 victory over the Bobcats in College Station. This series will be the first time the Nittany Lions have played the Bobcats in San Marcos.
On Tuesday, Mullins was named Sun Belt pitcher of the week for the second week in a row after improving to 9-2 on the season with an ERA of 0.39, 1 earned run and 19 strike outs in 18 innings of work for the week. On the season her ERA is 0.82 with 74 strike outs in 65.2 innings pitched.
Offensively the Bobcats are led by Sara Vanderford who is batting .368 with 18 RBI’s (team high), 25 hits, and a team leading 4 home runs. This Bobcat lineup is filled with players who can get hot at any time such as Ciara Trahan (.394, 9 RBI’s, and 28 hits), Hannah Earls (.390, 30 hits, and 16 runs scored), Anna Jones (.302, 14 RBI’s, and 19 hits), Karmyn Bass (.273, 17 RBI’s, and 18 hits) and Piper Randolph (.326, 13 RBI’s, and 2 home runs) to name a few.
The Nittany Lions are coming off of a loss to the Texas Longhorns, 1-7, on Monday night in a game that took place in Austin. Prior to kicking off this three-game series with the Bobcats, they will continue their Texas road trip and make a pit stop in Waco to face Baylor on Wednesday night.
They are coached by Clarisa Crowell, who is in her fourth year of coaching the team and has them off to their best start in school history. She has a record of 85-74 over the last three plus years of coaching at Penn State. The Nittany Lions had an RPI of 16 in the first rankings of the season.
Offensively the Nittany Lions are led by Haylie Brunson who is batting .333 with 19 RBI’s, 19 hits, and 3 home runs, which are also all team highs). Other notable contributors to the offense include, Kaitlyn Morrison (.348, 9 RBI’s, 16 hits, and 2 home runs), Maddie Gordon (.321, 8 RBI’s, 17 hits, and 2 home runs), Emily Maddock (.315, 6 RBI’s, and 17 hits), and Liana Jones (.286, 13 RBI’s, 14 hits, and 2 home runs).
The pitching staff for the Nittany Lions is led by Bridget Nemeth, who is 8-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.63 with 52 strike outs in 44.1 innings pitched. Mady Volpe is part of the regular rotation and is 5-1 on the season with an ERA of 3.22 with 45 strike outs in 41.1 innings pitched.
The game schedule can be found below.
Thursday, March 7 – 6pm ($1 Hot Dogs All Game)
Friday, March 8 (Game 1) – 4pm
Friday, March 8 (Game 2) – 6:30pm (Wear White!)
Weekend Notes:
•Jessica Mullins has 78 career wins and is fourth all time in wins for the Bobcats. If she pitches two games this weekend, she could potentially tie Chandler Hall for third place with 80 wins if she were to walk away with two victories.
•Vandy Homer Watch: Sara Vanderford has 33 career home runs and trails Ariel Ortiz, who has 39, for all-time leader.
•Vandy RBI Watch: Vanderford has 157 career RBI’s and also trails Ariel Ortiz, who has 164, for all-time leader.
•Hannah Earls has 70 stolen bases, which is currently third all time, and trails Haley Gaddis (79) and Kristen Zaleski (128) on the list.
•Bobcats Insider and X user @durag_boko are joining forces to ask the fans of the Bobcats to wear white for the final game of this series on Friday, March 8 at 6:30pm.
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