SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Bobcats (24-7) kept on rolling and picked up a 6-0 win over the Apalachin State Mountaineers (15-11) Friday night at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
After three scoreless innings from both teams, the Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Karmyn Bass popped out to start the inning and then JJ Smith gave the Bobcats their first hit of the day as she singled up the middle. Katarina Zarate would then reach on an error from App State, and this moved Smith to second base. Dani Laughlin would enter the game to pinch run for Smith. Emilee Baker then drew a walk to load the bases for the Bobcats with only one out. Megan Kelnar would then fly out which then led to a Hannah Earls RBI walk. Ciara Trahan would strike out to end the inning, but the Bobcats were up 1-0.
App State would go down in order in the top of the fifth inning and the Bobcats would build off the momentum they had in the fourth and extended their lead in the bottom half of the inning. Piper Randolph got things going with a leadoff single and Sara Vanderford would reach on an error by App State to put runners on first and second base. Bass would put down a sac-bunt to advance Randolph to third and Vanderford to second base. Smith struck out looking and then Zarate hit a single to the right side to drive in Randolph and Vanderford. Baker struck out to end the inning and the Bobcats extended their lead to 3.
After another scoreless inning from App State, the Bobcats would once again continue to roll on offense and extend their lead. The Bobcats capitalized on another error by App State as Sydney Harvey reached first base on a throwing error. Earls laid down a bunt and was able to make it to first base safely while moving Harvey to second base. Next, Harvey and Earls would successfully pull off a double steal to advance to second and third base. Trahan lined out and then Randolph would reach on a fielder’s choice and another throwing error allowed her to make it to second base while Earls moved to third and Harvey scored. Vanderford was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bobcats once again. Bass would then reach on another throwing error by App State which moved Vanderford to second, Randolph to third and allowed Earls to score. Smith would then reach on a fielder’s choice while Bass advanced to second, Vanderford was thrown out at third, but Randolph would score another run for the Bobcats. Zarate flied out to end the inning, but the damage was done. The Bobcats now led by six runs after six innings of play.
Jessica Mullins would get the final three outs in just seven pitches to seal the victory for the Bobcats.
The two teams will play game two of this three game series tomorrow (March 23) with the first pitch scheduled for 2pm (CT). The game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (Subscription required).
Game Notes
•Jessica Mullins improved to 15-3 on the season and finished with 5 strikeouts and zero earned runs in 7 innings pitched.
•Katarina Zarate had 1 hit and 2 RBI’s while Hannah Earls, Piper Randolph, and JJ Smith each had 1 hit and 1 RBI.
•Hannah Earls added 1 stolen base and now has 75 career stolen bases, which is currently third all-time, and trails Haley Gaddis (79) and Kristen Zaleski (128) on the all-time career list.
•The Bobcats improved to 22-0 when scoring 3 or more runs and they are 19-2 in games where they score first this season.
•Correction from our last recap, Vanderford has 163 career RBI’s and trails Ariel Ortiz by only 1 RBI for all-time career leader for the Bobcats.
Our cover photo for this article is used courtesy of Peter Vives and you can follow him on Instagram by clicking here. Thank you, Pete!
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