The ULM Warhawks Take the Weekend Series in San Marcos

By Mitchell Brackley

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State Bobcat’s came into the final game of their hotly-contested series against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks looking to bounce back from their 6-3 loss the day previous, and close out their first conference series of the season with a win.  

Texas State’s ace Maddie Azua took the mound Sunday looking to replicate her incredible 10-inning shutout against ULM on Friday. ULM’s respective ace, Ashanti McDade, also took the mound, looking for redemption after her 1-0 loss to open the series.  

Texas State’s Kamryn Bass would open up the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Keely Williams, and giving the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage. The next inning, Williams and Kate Bubela would scorch respective pitches into center field for RBI doubles, extending Texas State’s lead to three.  

After surrendering six hits and giving up three runs, Ashanti McDade, who pitched ten frames against Texas State on Friday, would be relieved for RHP Skylar Waggoner, after just one and two-thirds innings of work 

The Bobcat’s bats stayed hot in the third, seeing their first two batters reach, setting up Sami Hood’s RBI single to left, followed by Keely Williams getting her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle, putting the Bobcats up 5-1.  

After the game, Williams spoke on her 3-3, 2 RBI night. 

 “I was just trying to have fun honestly,”  said Williams. “They were trying to throw away from me… but I knew I was going to go after them.”  

ULM would attempt to respond with Hollie Thomas’ two-out one-run homer in the fifth, but Azua killed their rally, striking out Kelsey Tovar to keep the score locked at 6-2. 

Texas State would be quick to respond, as Sami Hood would crack a solo shot of her own to center field, Harley Vestal would launch a 2RBI single up the middle, and Megan Kelnar’s RBI bases-loaded walk would give Texas State a 10-2 mercy-rule win after just five innings.  

Maddy Azua would give up just six hits and two earned runs over five innings of work, with four hits and one run coming in just the third inning alone. Azua would only strike out three, but would use her wide arrange of pitches to have batters chasing all day, giving easy grounders and pop-ups for her defense to dominate.  

After the game, head coach Ricci Woodard touched on Azua’s abilities on the plate.  

“For her to still go out and do what she does against people, that have already [batted against her], it’s still pretty amazing to me.”  

Texas State looks to carry this momentum with them into their mid-week game against the University of Houston. Texas State will travel to the Cougar Softball Stadium this Tuesday, March 17th, to face the Houston Cougars, who currently sit at 17-12 and 1-5 in the Big 12.