Texas State softball kicking off spring season with multiple wins

Ireland Sargent | Staff Reporter

SAN MARCOS — Texas State University’s softball team commenced their season with back-to-back wins placing them at 5-3 for their current record. The team played their first game of the season on February 11, against New Mexico State University and recently concluded the University of Houston tournament. The Bobcats have attributed much of their success to the new, but remarkably similar approach to the season. 

Head coach Ricci Woodard expressed how different this season will be with fresh players. But with proper team bonding, the group will come together and be a cohesive team. 

“It’s a whole different group, and I think the biggest issue is trying to get them to gel together,” Woodard said. “The expectations are the same and those are the players we searched for when recruiting. The goal will always be the same and that is to win a championship.” 

The Bobcats are working each day towards a single goal of winning ball games and being at the Women’s College World Series (WCWS), a tournament for the finalists of the National

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bobcats have yet to step foot in the division 1 tournament but have succeeded in the Sun Belt Conference, closing the 2021 season at 17-6. 

Piper Randolph, outfielder and sophomore at Texas State, said her goal this season is to work together and follow the plan that was set in place the moment she became a Bobcat. Randolph is hopeful for the new team players and believes their chemistry will play a key role in their overall success. 

“Sticking to what we know and keeping to the plan is very important in the process,” Randolph said. “I really feel like this team has more chemistry than any team I’ve ever been on, so that makes me really confident going into the season.” 

Similar to Randolph’s views, infielder and junior of Texas State, Sara Vanderford, understands there needs to be slight adjustments after losing six seniors. 

“We lost a core class so it’s going to be different, but I have found a solid group to achieve what we wish to achieve,” Vanderford said. “We need to put ourselves in scoring position rather than banking on specific players to bring in runs.” 

The Texas State softball team is set to travel to Austin to participate in the Texas Classic after various weather delays, finalizing the tournament on Monday, February 28. For more information visit https://txstatebobcats.com/sports/softball.