Bobcats set the tone in 2024 season-opening double header

By Beau Kelly and Hunter Mancuso

KTSW Sports Reporters

The long-awaited Bobcat Softball season started off with an electric doubleheader against the UTSA Roadrunners and Northwestern State Demons Thursday afternoon.

The Bobcats opened their season with an extraordinary showing of talent, with freshman pitcher Madison Azua going for 12 strikeouts against the Roadrunners in her collegiate debut, only allowing two hits and one run in the top of the first inning.

The Bobcats snapped back quickly with a home run from sophomore utilitywoman Katarina Zarate to tie up the game. However, the Bobcats weren’t done there. In the third inning, a double hit by Karmyn Bass brought home Sara Vanderford to put the Bobcats up one for the rest of the game.

Azua was on a hot streak this game, going three up and three down in the fourth inning, then following up with two strikeouts in the fifth inning. She finally struck out at least one roadrunner for the rest of the game.

The Bobcats put away their season opener, concluding the game with a 2-1 victory against the Roadrunners.

The Bobcats won their second showing of the day, 7-0, against the Northwestern State Demons. Both sides of the ball were clicking, and after finishing UTSA in a dominant pitching performance the game before, the Bobcats got right back on the field and did the same thing again by this time, throwing a combined no-hitter.

Right-handed hurler Tori McCann got the nod as the starter in the second game of the double header. McCann went four innings deep with two strikeouts across her 13 batters faced. Senior pitcher Karsen Pierce took over and delivered one strikeout over the next two innings. 5’8 Junior Presley Glende took the ball in the 7th and sat down the final few to deliver the dagger.

On the offensive side of things, the Bobcats plated seven, three coming from a Sara Vanderford bomb in the first inning. JJ Smith joined the home run club with a solo shot late in the 5th inning, driving in any final blows she could before the defense took it home.

Madison Asia had an opportunity to speak with us after her strikeout-laced collegiate debut.

“I think just knowing how we can all gel well together on and off the field, knowing that we have that chemistry, we’re good to go,” freshman pitcher Madison Azua said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing; we know that we have each other’s backs and we’re there for each other.”

The Bobcats will continue to host several teams throughout the Texas State Tournament at Bobcat Softball Park. You can watch and listen to the Bobcats live on ESPN+ and KTSW 89.9, respectively, on supported streaming platforms.