(Photo Courtesy of Texas State Athletics)
SAN MARCOS – Texas State notched another victory in the I-35 Rivalry with an 8-0 run-ruled win over UTSA in the fifth inning Wednesday night to improve to 8-3. The Bobcats scored seven of the team’s runs in the fifth inning on five walks, three singles and a hit by pitch.
The Roadrunners were clearly concerned over Texas State’s big bats, walking nine batters on the night, including four of the last five batters to give the Bobcats the run rule.
Kortney Koroll led the Texas State bats with two of the team’s hits and two RBI in three at-bats. Kendall Wiley, Delia Saucedo, Katie Doerre and Jordan Masek each tallied a hit with the biggest coming from Saucedo for two RBI to bust the game open in the fifth inning.
Early in the game UTSA came out hitting, notching five hits through three innings, but the Bobcats were able to buckle down when needed to strand seven UTSA baserunners during the opening three innings. Ultimately, UTSA left 10 on base and the Bobcats only gave up one more hit the rest of the night.
In the bottom of the third, Texas State’s offense started to pop. The heart of the team’s lineup made a move with Wiley and Courtney Harris each earning a walk to set up Koroll for the go-ahead RBI. Koroll obliged with a shot up the middle just out of the shortstop’s reach to score Wiley with two outs. After giving up the first run, UTSA was able to force a pop-up for the final out of the inning to limit Texas State’s opportunity.
The Bobcats threatened again in the bottom of the fourth when UTSA hit Doerre and walked Masek but a pop-up to short and a liner to centerfield ended the threat.
The Roadrunners put together their biggest opportunity of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Victoria Birdwell led off with a single. Two walks and a fielder’s choice later, UTSA had the bases loaded with two outs. The Roadrunners tried to take advantage, using a pinch hitter in the situation but Rayn House shut her down with a strikeout in a big moment. House finished with three strikeouts to improve to 6-1.
Texas State rode the momentum from that strikeout into the bottom of the inning. The Roadrunners walked Harris and Koroll followed with a single. Harris and Danielle Warne, pinch running for Koroll, both advanced on a double steal. Saucedo snuck a hit through the right side to score both base runners and give the Bobcats a little breathing room.
The Bobcats kept the pressure on in the inning after Saucedo’s two-RBI single. Bianca Prado walked while Doerre and Masek hit consecutive singles to add two more runs. Kelli Baker earned a walk after that to load the bases for Timishia North.
UTSA reliever Chelsea Parker walked North to add another run in the big inning for the Bobcats. After that, UTSA walked two more batters to help Texas State seal the game by run rule in the fifth inning.
Texas State travels to Denton, Texas Thursday for games throughout the weekend against North Texas, Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian and Prairie View A&M at the Texas Shootout. North Texas will be first for the Bobcats at 5 p.m. Thursday.
