Texas State softball lost eight seniors to graduation and its best pitcher, Madison Azua, to Texas A&M this offseason. It began rebuilding the roster’s strength Tuesday, adding six players through the transfer portal, which closed June 22.

Head coach Ricci Woodard said to the American-Statesman last Wednesday that leading the Austin Volts while talking to potential commits has been a lot to handle. With the help of her assistant coaches — her brother, Scott Woodard, and Peejay Brun — the Bobcats were still able to operate on some level of normalcy.

“People know who we are, they know what the product is,” Woodard said. “I didn’t have to be there for kids to commit and come in on visits.”

Regardless, the Bobcats’ biggest question is whether their pitching will hold up in the Pac-12, which resumes play this upcoming season. Texas State joins the conference July 1 as a part of the seven-team league. 

Azua isn’t the only arm they have to replace; right-hander Emma Strood exhausted her eligibility in 2026, and right-hander Chesney Davis transferred to Tulsa. Texas State pitching coach Joshua Trevino also announced he was taking a step back from his duties in the offseason.

Creighton outfielder Zoey Greenwood, Creighton infielder Karina Trevino, Auburn left-handed pitcher SJ Guerin, Western Illinois University infielder Payton Brown and Louisiana-Monroe catcher Tessie Harrison all plan to play with the Bobcats in 2027. A source close to the program told the Statesman on Thursday that there’ll be one other transfer who has yet to sign.

Guerin, who was a district pitcher of the year for Leander in 2021, peaked in 2025 with Auburn: a 2.97 ERA in 190⅔ innings pitched. However, her performance dipped this past year, as her ERA rose to 4.97, and her innings fell to 72⅓. Azua’s departure leaves a gaping hole in the rotation that Texas State might not be able to replace, but Woodard said she believes good pitching will find its way to San Marcos.

“You go out and find what’s going to be the next best fit for Texas State to be successful,” Woodard said.

Out of the other transfers, two have put up production that signals starting potential. Greenwood started in the outfield last season as a freshman, putting up an .851 on-base plus slugging percentage. Brown just played six games in 2026, but was named OVC player of the year in 2025 after recording a 1.245 OPS. She reunites with her former head coach, Alisa Goler, who joined Texas State as the new hitting coach this offseason.

Harrison played for East Central High School in San Antonio before appearing in eight games for ULM this season as a freshman. Trevino, another rising sophomore, was first-team all-district four times for Robstown Early College High School, near Corpus Christi.