SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team rallied to tie the game in the sixth but gave up a run in the top of the seventh to fall to Boston College 4-3 Monday afternoon at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Bobcats drop to 2-3 on the season while the Eagles improve to 1-4.
 
BC struck first in the top of the third. After a leadoff double, Chloe Sharabba belted a two-run homer down the left field line to take a 2-0 lead.
 
A solo shot from Emme Martinez to left field the next inning extended the Eagles' advantage to 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Hailey MacKay sent a 3-1 offering to left centerfield for a double. She would advance to third following a groundout to the third baseman. On a 1-1 pitch, Ariel Ortiz sent popped the ball up to shallow center. The centerfielder made a diving attempt but was unable to make the catch and allow MacKay to cross the plate and cut the deficit to two.
 
ArieAnn Bell pinch hit to start off the sixth frame for TXST and laced a 2-1 offering to left field for a double. After Christina McDowell reentered the game as a pinch runner for Bell, Brianna Sannem laid down a bunt towards first. The first baseman picked the ball up and tried to tag her but missed, and her throw to first was late to put runners on the corners with no outs.
 
MacKay fouled off four straight pitches before blooping a single to left field to plate a run. Following a sacrifice bunt from Tara Oltmann to put two in scoring position, Ortiz flied out to center that was deep enough to bring home Sannem and tie the game 3-3.
 
To start off the top of the seventh BC was able to draw a leadoff walk. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt put runners on the corners with no one gone. Jordan Chimento laid down another sac bunt that brought home a run to put the Eagles back in front 4-3.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Bobcats were able to get runners on first and second after Kylie Matula reached on a fielder's choice and McDowell singled down the left field line with two outs. BC's Jessica Drewsick (1-0) was able to induce a ground out to end the game.
 
Randi Rupp pitched her fourth straight complete game with 12 strikeouts. However, she allowed four runs, three of them earned, on seven hits to drop to 2-2 on the season.
 
MacKay went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, RBI and run scored. Also recording hits were Bell, McDowell, Ortiz and Sannem.
 
Next up for TXST is the Littlewood Classic this weekend in Tempe, Arizona. The Bobcats will open up at 11 a.m. CT on Friday against Illinois State and conclude the opening day at 4 p.m. CT versus North Dakota.