By Jacob Plecker. SAN MARCOS, Texas. — Trailing by four after three outs of play and then falling behind five runs after the second inning, the App State Softball team used a great outing in relief by Sejal Neas to help its comeback effort, but the strong pitching and defense of the Texas State Bobcats sunk the Mountaineers in the series finale, the Bobcats winning, 6-4, on March 16.
App State (9-18, 0-3 SBC) saw a phenomenal outing by Neas over the final six innings of play as the senior kept Texas State (18-6, 3-0 SBC) off the scoreboard for each of the final four innings. Neas gave up zero earned runs in her 5.1 innings of work and helped settle things down for App State after the Bobcats scored four times in the first inning. This included leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Mountaineers trailing by two.
The Mountaineers outhit the Bobcats in game 3, seeing a 7-6 advantage. Makayla McClain and Grace Barrett both tallied a multi-hit game and the top four in the Mountaineer order posted six of the seven hits. Leah Gore smacked her team-leading fifth homer of the season out of right field and Summer Simpson helped spark a rally that resulted in a two-run third inning. Simpson gave App State good production out of the nine-hole in San Marcos as she recorded two hits and scored two runs.
It was a close series between the Mountaineers and Bobcats to open Sun Belt play, but the big inning bit the Mountaineers on both Friday and Sunday. App State surrendered a four-run first frame in both the series opener and the series finale. Take those innings away, and the two teams were separated by just three runs. In both games that App State allowed a four-run first, Texas State led wire-to-wire.
How it Happened
The Mountaineers went quietly in the top of the first inning as Texas State sat down the first three hitters it faced. The Bobcats saw walks to three of their first four hitters to quickly load the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. Sophie Moshos, the Mountaineers starting pitcher, recorded the second out of the inning, but back-to-back singles helped plate four first-innings runs. Neas came on to relieve Moshos and ended the inning, but the Bobcats led 4-0 after one.
Instantly responding, App State trimmed its deficit down to three runs with nobody out in the second as Gore shot a homer the opposite way for her fifth long ball of the year. Texas State didn’t let the Mountaineers get any closer in the second and maintained its three-run lead.
Texas State responded by scoring twice more in the bottom of the second inning to shoot its lead back to five. The frame started with a single by the lead-off hitter and then a crucial error on a sacrifice bunt attempt put two runners on for the Bobcats’ third hitter in their lineup. This resulted in a sac fly to make the score 5-1. After a walk to Aiyana Coleman, Neas struck out the next hitter for the second out, but a steal of second and throw through the pitcher plated the Bobcats’ sixth run. That was the last time Texas State scored in the game.
As part of this back-and-forth game, the Mountaineers bounced back and scored twice in the third inning to chip away at their deficit. Texas State retired the first hitter of the inning and then four straight hits by Simpson, McClain, Macy Hamby and Barrett plated two runs to make the score 6-3. Texas State made a pitching change after Barrett’s RBI hit and turned to Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Madison Azua, who retired the side and left two stranded.
Neas left a two-out double stranded in the third inning to post a scoreless frame and then posted her second consecutive scoreless frame in the fourth by striking out a batter. App State used the momentum from Neas’ work and scored again in the fifth inning to make it a two-run game.
McClain’s second hit of the day started the inning before Barrett whacked a single into right-center field to put runners on the corners with one out. The Bobcats retired the next hitters, but the Mountaineers executed a double steal as Barrett took off for second and made it safely which sent McClain home. A popout closed the inning, but it was just a two-run ballgame after five.
A quick inning from both defenses helped move action to the bottom of the sixth inning, which saw Texas State load the bases with two outs. Needing to keep the score where it was, Neas got to a two-strike count and saw a soft line drive snagged at third base by the jumping Olivia Cook, which kept the score at 6-4 into the final inning.
App State turned to Simpson to start the comeback effort, and she nearly opened the inning with a key knock, but a diving play in right field by Bailee Slack recorded the first out. Azua retired the next two hitters in order and sealed her third win of the weekend with a strikeout.
Friday Notes
Home runs
App: Gore (5)
TXST:
WP: Madison Azua (10-2): 4.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV: N/A
LP: Sophie Moshos (5-6): 0.2 IP, 2 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts
Up Next
The Mountaineers will open their home schedule and the newly constructed Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium next weekend by playing host to the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Mountaineers will celebrate their 25th season of softball in the High Country all weekend long while also celebrating their alumni. The series will open on Friday with first pitch slated for noon. All three contests can be streamed on ESPN+. Admission to all home games is free.
