By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

SAN MARCOS — Marshall broke through late and leaned on a dominant pitching performance to edge Texas State 2-1 on Saturday at Bobcat Softball Stadium, snapping the Bobcats’ home success in the series and setting up a rubber match between two Sun Belt contenders.

The Thundering Herd (24-10, 5-3 Sun Belt) scored both runs in the fifth inning and made them stand behind Maddie Veal, who tossed a complete game and limited Texas State to four hits.

The Bobcats (21-14, 5-3) answered with a run in the sixth but couldn’t complete the comeback.

“Yeah, we just didn’t make adjustments,” said Texas State head coach Ricci Woodard. “That was the bottom line … we never made adjustments to figure out how to get above the ball.”

The loss marked Marshall’s first win at Bobcat Softball Stadium and just its second victory in the last seven meetings in San Marcos, where Texas State had been 5-1 all-time against the Thundering Herd.

Saturday’s result also tightened an already crowded Sun Belt race.

Both teams entered the day tied for third place and remain a half-game behind Southern Miss and South Alabama, with RPIs inside the top 50 – Marshall at No. 31 and Texas State at No. 43.

After Texas State controlled Friday’s opener – a 6-1 win behind 12 hits and a complete-game effort from Maddy Azua – Saturday flipped into a pitchers’ duel.

Veal (7-2) was the difference.

The right-hander worked around traffic all afternoon, allowing just one unearned run while striking out seven and walking two in a 117-pitch outing . Texas State put multiple runners on base in several innings but couldn’t string together timely hits.

“We’ve done a good job of managing people on base,” Woodard said. “That’s half the battle … we just got to do a better job offensively of keeping that momentum.”

Marshall finally broke the scoreless tie in the fifth.

Sydni Burko led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, and the Herd added another run later in the frame on a sacrifice fly from Ava Blake to make it 2-0.

Texas State responded in the sixth when Sydney Harvey reached and advanced on an outfield error before Aiyana Coleman drove her in with a single down the left-field line. The run was ruled unearned, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Bobcats had one last chance in the seventh. Kate Bubela delivered a one-out double into the gap, but Veal closed the door with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Texas State finished with just four hits, including two from Harvey, after erupting for 12 hits in Friday’s win.

Marshall, meanwhile, totaled eight hits and drew five walks, with Burko (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and Chandler Hoskins (2-for-3) leading the way.

Despite the loss, Woodard didn’t question her team’s urgency heading into Sunday’s series finale.

“I shouldn’t have to motivate them,” she said. “If you can’t come out ready to rock and roll, just sleep in your bed.”

With the series even and conference positioning on the line, both teams will look to seize momentum in the finale. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

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