Texas State Softball Returns Home Wednesday To Face Off With Lamar

by, Shannon Carrico, TXST Sports Information Intern

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team returns home to play host to the Lamar Cardinals Wednesday at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. First pitch against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Texas State enters the matchup with a 24-15 overall record and is 4-8 in Sun Belt Conference play. Last weekend, the Bobcats earned a 2-1, come from behind victory over the Houston Baptist Huskies. The ‘Cats are now 5-8 on the road this season.

The Bobcat offense is led by senior second baseman Kelli Baker, who leads the squad with 39 hits this season. Baker also leads the team with a .320 batting average, three triples and 54 total bases.

Sophomores Ariel Ortiz (.296) and Taylor Webb (.284) have each recorded eight doubles and one home run. The Bobcats carry a .237 team batting average and have hit 18 home runs this season.

Quincy Charleston earned her third win of the season last Wednesday, entering the game in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second with only one out. Facing her first batter of the game, she was able to induce a ground ball double play to get Texas State out of the jam. Texas State then took the lead in the top of the seventh, 2-1, and Charleston finished the game by striking out the side to secure the Bobcat victory. After last Wednesday’s victory, the pitching staff has a collective 2.27 ERA.

Texas State currently sits at No. 55 in the NCAA RPI rankings right above fellow SBC members Troy (56) and UT Arlington (66).

Head coach Ricci Woodard is in her 16th season at the helm of the Bobcat program

A Look At The Competition – Lamar

Lamar enters the contest with a 24-14 overall record. The Cardinals are on a three game winning streak and sit second in the Southland Conference with an 11-4 record. Texas State is one of three non-conference match-ups the Cardinals will have for the remainder of the season.

The Cardinals have gone up against several Texas State opponents including Incarnate Word, Louisiana Tech, Houston Baptist, Abilene Christian and Northwestern State. The Cardinals have a perfect 4-0 record against Incarnate Word this season, have won games against Northwestern State and Houston Baptist, but lost their series against Abilene Christian.

At the plate, the Cardinals are led by sophomore Brittany Rodriguez who carries a .418 batting average. Rodriguez is a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases and has recorded 51 hits on the year, including two triples. Freshman Kelly Meeuwsen has also produced offensively, leading the team with 14 doubles and a .538 slugging percentage. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .315 this season.

In the circle, Ciara Luna leads the staff with a 12-4 record and a 2.44 ERA. The junior has tallied 70 strikeouts in 106.1 innings this season. Sophomore Laura Napoli follows Luna with a 3.22 ERA and 6-6 record. The Cardinal pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.07.

Lamar is led by Holly Bruder, who is in her fourth season as head coach for the Cardinals.

Final Details

First pitch against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live stats, live audio and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.