MOBILE, Ala. | After making history earlier this week becoming the program's all-time steals leader, Mackenzie Brasher added another milestone to her South Alabama career as she became just the fifth player in program history to record 200 hits Friday night. Texas State did manage to clinch the series as the Bobcats picked up a 13-3 victory over the Jags at Jaguar Field.

Brasher recorded three of South's seven hits in the loss, scored a run and stole two bases. Sasha Willems and Brooklynn Bockhaus each had a hit and drove in a run.

The Bobcats were led at the plate by Ciara Trahan and Sara Vanderford as each had three hits apiece. Trahan ended the night 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI, while Vanderford was 3-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and seven runs driven in.

South Alabama fell to 17-14-1 and 3-5 in the Sun Belt with the loss, while Texas State improved to 29-7 and 7-1 in the league with the win.

How It Happened 
•    Texas State loaded the bases as the first three batters of the game reached via two walks and a Jaguar fielding error. Two batters later, Vanderford dropped in a single in shallow right that was just outside of Bockhaus' diving effort, scoring Hannah Earls and Trahan (TXST, 2-0).
•    Brasher bounced a single down the left field line that was just inside the bag at third to start things off for South in the bottom of the first. The senior then moved into scoring position with her 19th stolen base of the spring, but she was left there after Texas State's Madison Azua (6-3) retired the next two batters.
•    Karmyn Bass led off the Bobcat second with an infield single and was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Trahan lined a single back up the middle to bring in the third run of the game for Texas State (TXST, 3-0). Piper Randolph followed with a RBI-single to left to extend the visitor's advantage to 4-0.
•    Brasher recorded her second hit of the contest with an infield single and then advanced to second after a throwing error on the play. With two outs in the third, Sasha Willems lined a RBI single to right to bring Brasher into score (TXST, 4-1).
•    Texas State got the run right back the next half inning as Kamden Hutton doubled to the gap in left center with one out, scoring pinch runner Dani Laughlin (TXST, 5-1).
•    Stephanie Gonzalez drew a lead-off walk to begin the fourth for South Alabama, and Shelby Garrett put a pair in scoring position when she lined a double off the wall in left center. Two batters later Bockhaus laid down a squeeze bunt to bring Odalys Cordova, pinch running for Gonzalez, home from third (TXST, 5-2). Marley Sims then lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to plate pinch runner Caitlynn Gavin (TXST, 5-3).
•    Texas State answered right back its next time up. Randolph reached on a bunt single with one out in the top of the fifth and three pitches later Vanderford homered to center to extend the Bobcat lead back to four (7-3). 
•    The Bobcats tacked on six runs on three hits in the top of the seventh, which was capped off with Vanderford's three-run home run to left, her second long ball of the game.

Postgame Notes
•    The meeting marked the 30th in the all-time series between the two clubs 
•    In a streak dating back to May 7, 2021, Brasher made her 142nd consecutive start, passing former Jag Brittany Fowler for eighth-longest streak in program history
•    With her first-inning single, Brasher has reached base in 13 of her last 16 outings and had at least one hit in 12 of her last 15
•    Brasher (200) became the fifth player in program history to record 200 hits in their career, with her third-inning single, joining Kaleigh (231, 2015-18), Brittany Fowler (213, 2010-13), Emily Messer (208, 2013-16) and Blair Johnson (203, 2012-15)
•    The three-hit effort for Brasher was the 51st multi-hit game for the Jag center fielder, moving her into a tie with Tara Donaldson (51) for fourth place at South
•    The three hits also marked the 13th time Brasher has done so in a game in her career and was her ninth multi-hit game of the spring
•    Bailey Welch has had a hit in seven of her last 11 games
•    The two home runs by Vanderford marked the third time this season an opposing player has had multiple in a game, and the 17th time an opposing player has hit two or more in the same game against Jaguar pitching 
•    The seven RBI by Vanderford were the most by an opposing player in a single game eclipsing the previous high of six set by Samford's Amanda Barrs (2/14/10)

Up Next
•    South Alabama will close out the series with Texas State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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