MOBILE, Ala. – The Texas State softball team fell in the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game to No. 1 UL Lafayette by a score of 12-0 Saturday afternoon. This was the first SBC Championship Game for the Bobcats since joining the league three seasons ago.
 
Texas State falls to 39-20 overall and the 'Cats ended the tournament with a 3-2 record.
 
The Bobcats had an opportunity to take an early lead in the top of the first against the Cajuns. Kelli Baker led the game off with a walk and she quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kimberlin Naivar. Naivar was also safe at first as the defense attempted to get Baker out at second. The two runners then advanced to second and third after an Ariel Ortiz bunt, but ultimately were stranded after the Cajuns retired the next two batters in order.
 
UL Lafayette then took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. A triple by Aleah Craighton scored the two runners on base before the inning ended with Craighton trying to advance home.
 
The Cajuns went on to score three in the third and seven in the fourth to go on and win the championship.
 
Texas State had three players recognized on the SBC All-Tournament Team in Randi Rupp, Kimberlin Naivar, and Ariel Ortiz. Rupp led the Bobcats in all three victories with 23 strikeouts and 29.2 innings pitched. Naivar led the 'Cats with eight hits including her first collegiate triple. Ortiz helped guide the Bobcats offensively against Georgia State after hitting her sixth home run of the season.
 
The Bobcats will now wait for the NCAA Selection Show to determine if the 'Cats will earn a spot in regional play. The NCAA Tournament is comprised of 64 teams of which 32 of them are automatic qualifiers with the additional 32 teams earning at-large bids. The selection show will be televised on ESPNU and will begin at 9 p.m. Sunday evening.