Bobcat Softball is Back - Texas State Athletics (2024)

© Derek Russell

Softball 2/6/2024 9:26:00 AM Megan Webb

SAN MARCOS, Texas –Texas State softball officially returns for the 2024 season on Thursday afternoon.

The Bobcats will host the Texas State Tournament starting on Thursday which runs through Sunday. In the four days, will play six games against UTSA, Northwestern State, Kennesaw State, SIU and Creighton.

Texas State, which is coming off a 35-win campaign and NCAA tournament appearance via at-large bid was picked third in the Sun Belt coaches preseason poll.

The Bobcats will open the season with 12-straight home games. The 'Cats will host back-to-back tournaments, including this opening weekend. The Bobcats will also host Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor in the home side of its non-conference games this season.

Texas State opens the season with a doubleheader against UTSA (2 pm) and Northwestern State (4:15 pm). It will then play one game Friday against Kennesaw State (4;45 pm) before another doubleheader Saturday against Southern Illinois (2:30 pm) and Creighton (4:45 pm). To close the tournament on Sunday, the 'Cats will play Southern Illinois at 10 am.

All tournament passes are available for purchase at txst.com/tickets.

WEEKEND MATCH UPS
2024 Texas State Tournament
Bobcat Softball Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
For the most updated game information, visit txst.com/sports/softball/schedule

UTSA at Texas State | 2 pm
Streamed on ESPN+ | Listen on KTSW 89.9 | Live Stats
Northwestern State at Texas State | 4:15 pm
Streamed on ESPN+ | Listen on KTSW 89.9 | Live Stats
UTSA vs Northwestern State | 6:30 pm | Live stats

Northwestern State vs Creighton | 12:15 pm | Live stats
SIU vs UTSA | 2:30 pm | Live stats
Kennesaw State at Texas State | 4:45 pm
Streamed on ESPN+ | Listen on KTSW 89.9 | Live Stats
Kennesaw State vs UTSA | 7 pm | Live Stats

Northwestern State vs SIU | 10 am | Live Stats
Kennesaw State vs Northwestern State | 12:15 pm | Live stats
SIU at Texas State | 2:30 pm | Live stats
Creighton at Texas State | 4:45 pm | Live stats
UTSA vs Creighton | 7 pm | Live stats

SIU at Texas State | 10 am
Streamed on ESPN+ | Listen on KTSW 89.9 | Live Stats
Creighton vs Kennesaw State | 12:15 pm | Live stats

GAME NOTES

• Texas State returns all 21 players from last year's team, including former All-Sun Belt playersJessica Mullins(pitcher),Sara Vanderford(third base),Ciara Trahan(outfield) andHannah Earls(shortstop).
  • The Bobcats also return seniors Anna Jones, Piper Randolph and JJ Smith
  • Offensively, the Bobcats return 100 percent of their RBI from last year.
    • The only exception is Claire Ginder who anticipated returning to the team but had to get season-ending surgery to help with an injury before the season began.
  • In the circle, the Bobcats return Mullins,Karsen Pierce(20 appearances, 14 starts),Presley Glende(11 appearances, 2 starts) andTori McCann(26 appearances, 17 starts) and Analisa Soliz (eight appearances, one start).
  • Texas State returns 100 percent of its innings pitched from last season.
• Head coachRicci Woodardwill enter her 24th season at the helm of Texas State softball.
  • A coach with 12 conference championships and 10 NCAA Regional appearances, Woodard enters the season with 797 career wins.
  • Woodard is 28th among active Division I coaches in career wins.
  • She has a shot this season to join the group of 28 active Division I head coaches with 800 career wins.
  • Among the top-30 NCAA Division I head coaches in terms of career wins, Woodard is one of only 13 coaches to accumulate their wins at one school.
• Entering her senior year, pitcherJessica Mullinshas entered Texas State's all-time top-10 in several career categories.
  • Mullins ranks:
    • 4th in career ERA (1.80)
    • 5th in career wins (69)
    • 5th in career strikeouts (599)
    • 7th in career appearances (123)
  • To move up the record book in career wins, Mullins needs six more to surpass Jessica Chase (1999-2002) and 11 to move into third. The all-time record for career wins is held by Randi Rupp who had 110 (2015-18).
• In addition to Mullins, third basemanSara Vanderfordis also climbing the Texas State career lists.
  • The 5^thyear is 2nd in career batting average (.330), 1st in career doubles (52), 2nd in career home runs (29), and 2nd in career RBI (139).
    • To move into first on the career RBI list, Vanderford will need 165 RBI to surpass Ariel Ortiz (2015-18.)
    • Vanderford would need 10 home runs to move into first.
• Texas State plays all its games in February at home and will look to maintain a winning record in the opening month for the 4th straight year.
  • Texas State is 35-17 in February over the last four seasons.
    • 2025: 12-4
    • 2022: 6-5
    • 2021: 6-2
    • 2020: 11-6

LAST TIME THEY MET
UTSA
All-time series: Texas State leads 50-43
Last meeting: March 22, 2023 (W, 15-0, 5 inn.)
All-time in San Marcos: Texas State leads 33-23

Northwestern State
All-time series: Texas State trails, 51-52
Last meeting: Feb. 13, 2016 (L, 0-1)
All-time in San Marcos: Texas State trails, 21-24

Kennesaw State
All-time series: First meeting

SIU
All-time series: Texas State leads 2-0
Last meeting: Feb. 9, 2014 (TXST 9-0 SIU)
All-time in San Marcos: First meeting

Creighton
All-time series: Texas State trails 3-7
Last meeting: March 28, 2010 (L, 0-2, 8 inn.)
All-time in San Marcos: Texas State trails 1-3