Rother Homerun Advances Texas State to Southland Softball Tournament Championship
LAKE CHARLES, La. ? Sophomore outfielder Allyce Rother hit the game winning homerun in the bottom of the fifth to lead No. 1 Texas State to a 1-0 win over No. 2 McNeese State to advance to the 2009 Southland Conference Softball Championship game. Tomorrow’s championship game will be played at 1:30pm. Rother leads the tournament in homeruns with two.
“Allyce (Rother) has struggled a little but this season, but it’s nice to see her hit some long balls,” said Head Coach Ricci Woodard. “Chandler (Hall) has done a good job on the mound, keeping us in ball games.”
As day two of the Southland Championships got underway Texas State’s Taylor Hall recorded the first hit of the day when she recorded a bunt to the pitcher, reaching base on a McNeese State defensive miscommunication.
Designated player Leah Boatright reached on a single to right field and advanced to second on a passed by. Ryan Kos hit a single down the right side, moving Boatright to third. On the same play Boatright attempted to steal home, but was called out on a throw from the first baseman to the catcher. With the throw at home, Kos stole second to end the play with Allyce Rother up to bat next. Rother fouled out to center field to end the inning.
The Cowgirls got their first hit of the game when Dani Price hit a fly ball to center field for a double in the top of the fourth. McNeese recorded three straight outs after the bat to end the inning with just one hit.
Allyce Rother hit her second homerun of the season and tournament when she blasted the ball over the left field wall to give the Bobcats a 1-0 edge over the Cowgirls in the bottom of the fifth.
The Cowgirls had one last chance in the top of the seventh when Katie Shumaker singled to left field with two outs. Liz Morvant was up to bat next, but Hall recorded her seventh strikeout of the day when she caught Morvant swinging to end the game.
“We came out here today to win and we did. Tomorrow is the championship, so we still have more to accomplish,” said Woodard.
Texas State recorded one run on seven hits. McNeese State had three hits and zero runs to end the day.
Chandler Hall pitched a complete game giving up just three hits, while recording seven strikeouts and her 23rd win of the season. McNeese State’s Bethany Stefinsky falls to 20-15.
T. Hall was 2-for-3 as she recorded two singles on the day. Emery was also 2-for-3 with two singles to left field.
The winner of No. 3 UTSA and No. 6 Sam Houston State will No. 2 McNeese State tomorrow at 11:00am. The winner of that game will face Texas State at 1:30pm in the championship game.