The Bobcats Solo Homerun Shuts Out Southeastern Louisiana 

By Ava Gibson 

KTSW Sports Reporter  

SAN MARCOS, Texas–  Aiyana Coleman’s solo homerun in the first inning was enough to secure the 1-0 win for the bobcats against the Southeastern Louisiana lions Saturday evening.  

The senior infielder’s two-out long shot over left field lit a spark for the game coming off a 4-0 loss earlier in the series. Coleman’s fifth homerun of the season proved to be the difference in the close matchup where the bobcats relied heavily on pitching and defense. Texas State delivered multiple double plays, including a momentum-shifting twin killing in the seventh inning that erased the tying run and sealed the shutout.  

Head Coach Ricci Woodard said the turnaround started with the players themselves. 

“They had their own little team meeting out here about, you know, just being more focused and having more energy and just finding ways to win ball games,” Woodard said. “I thought they definitely brought a different energy to that second game.” 

Southeastern Louisiana put pressure on the bobcats offensively throughout the game with seven hits but couldn’t push a run across. The lions put runners in place during the third inning after a first base call was reviewed followed by a shot through the hole in right field by lions Shelby Morris. Texas State quickly responded with a double play followed by a strikeout to escape the inning. The lions also capitalized on a seventh inning error to get the tying run on base, but the bobcats ended the game with a double play and a ground out to first.  

“I thought there was more intensity, I thought there was more fire. Pitching staff threw well, but we made some key defensive plays in that game also,” Woodard said, “I still think we have to swing the bat better than we did, but sometimes you just got to get out some one to nothing wins in this game.” 

Right-handed pitcher Emma Strood held down the circle for five plus innings keeping Southeastern Louisiana off the scoreboard. Strood produced two strikeouts for the bobcats and came out of the game with six hits. Chesney Davis stepped onto the mound in the top of the sixth to close the game out allowing her lone hit in the seventh with double plays in both innings.  

The Texas State bobcats are now 11-7 on the season and will finish their series against Southeastern Louisiana February 28th at 12 p.m.