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.
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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.
Texas State softball s (27-8 overall, 9-5 Sun Belt) struggles continued from April 17-18 with a 2-1 series loss to the No. 14 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (34-7 overall, 16-2 Sun Belt).
A 7-5 victory over Baylor University on April 14 provided a base for a resurgence after suffering a series sweep against the University of South Alabama, which squashed hopes of a program record-breaking 19th consecutive win.
The series started strong for the Bobcats, who won the first game of the April 17 doubleheader 5-1.
Louisiana opened the scoring in the fourth with an RBI sacrifice bunt from junior utility player Melissa Mayeux. The Ragin Cajuns struggled with hitting until the run, registering only two hits.