Texas State softball (38-11 overall, 17-6 Sun Belt) fell 4-3 to the University of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (43-10 overall, 21-3 Sun Belt) in the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats are not out of the tournament and will play an elimination game against the No. 4 seed University of South Alabama on May 15. The winner will play Louisiana in the championship.
The No. 2 Bobcats came into the matchup with a 4-0 shutout over the No. 6 University of Texas at Arlington while No. 1 Louisiana won a 10-3 blowout against South Alabama.
The game went scoreless through four innings, but the Bobcats managed to get four base hits in that time, even stranding three runners on base in the bottom of the second.
The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns are now just one win away from another postseason league championship.
14th-ranked Louisiana defeated the Texas St. Bobcats, 4-3, on the fourth day of play in the Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship in Troy, Alabama, to advance into the championship game.
Louisiana, the top-seed, has won the event 15 times in the 20 years of completed play.
The Cajuns, who have now won 27 of their last 31 games, reached the 40-win mark this year for the 22nd-consecutive season.
UL, who is now 64-9 in the event s history has appeared in the last six championship games and last captured the tournament title back in 2019 in San Marcos, Texas.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After getting leadoff hitter Ciara Bryan on in both the first and fourth but unable to score a run. Bryan was caught stealing second base in the first and then was caught off the bag at second in the fourth.
The Ragin’ Cajuns got to Texas State pitcher Meagan King in the top of the fifth.
Justice Milz led off with a double down the left field line two batters later Alissa Dalton reached on a single. Milz though would be thrown at trying to score while Dalton advanced to second. The play was reviewed but the call was upheld.
Texas State softball (37-10 overall, 17-6 Sun Belt) defeated the Georgia State University Panthers (16-29 overall, 3-18 Sun Belt) 2-0 in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
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Texas State Softball team members warm up before a game against Georgia Southern, Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats won 3-0.
Natalie Ryan
Texas State freshman pitcher Jessica Mullins (4) pitches to a Georgia Southern batter, Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats won 3-0.
Natalie Ryan
Texas State Softball team members line up for the national anthem before a game against Georgia Southern, Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats won 3-0.
Natalie Ryan
Texas State freshman infielder Baylee Lemons (24) gets ready to bat against Georgia Southern, Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats won 3-0.