Texas State Advances to Southland Softball Tournament Title Game
No. 3 Texas State 2, No. 4 McNeese State 1
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The No. 3 seed Texas State edged the No. 4 seed McNeese State 2-1 as the Bobcats advance to their third consecutive title game in the 2011 Southland Conference Softball Tournament in Huntsville, Texas.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Texas State junior Megan Parten drove in the game-winning run on a bases loaded single through the left side scoring senior Jenna Emery.
Texas State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Anna Hernandez drew a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Allyce Rother. Junior Megan Parten followed with an RBI single to right center field scoring Hernandez.
McNeese State answered in the top of the third inning tying the game 1-1. Sophomore Kourtney Kober reached base on a catcher interference call and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Stacey Conley. Two batters later freshman Katie Roux tied the game on an RBI single to left field scoring Kober.
Texas State coach Ricci Woodard recorded her 400th career win. Bobcats' sophomore pitcher Anne Marie Taylor improved to 17-5 on the year and had four strikeouts recording her 11th complete game of the season.
Texas State and McNeese State have met in three consecutive tournaments including the last two championship games with the Bobcats winning the title in 2009 and the Cowgirls taking home the crown in 2010.
The Bobcats stay undefeated at 3-0 in tournament play and advance to the championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday which will be televised live on the Southland Conference Television Network.
McNeese State will play again on Friday at 10:30 a.m. against the winner of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UTSA game that began at 8:15 this evening.
Post Game Quotes
Texas State Coach Ricci Woodard
"It was a great ball game, both teams played very well. It reminded me of last year's ball game, being in the same situation in last year's tournament. We knew coming in it was going to be a great ball game. It was one of those deals where you just keep battling and working at it. Obviously, Megan Parten came up with two big hits or us, but I thought we it some balls very well all night long and so did McNeese. The play Allyce Rother made in centerfield probably wins us the ball games also. I thought overall that both teams played very well. It was sad that somebody had to lose."
Texas State Junior Megan Parten
"I felt really good going up to bat. I had already gotten one RBI earlier in the game so I felt pretty cofident about it. I was just looking for a good strike kind of inside. She gave me one and then she pitched one outside and I went with it. After fouling it off I came back and was abel to hit it hard on the ground and it scored a run."