LAFAYETTE, La. – The Texas State softball team (41-14, 18-5 SBC) defeated Troy Trojans (34-26, 14-13 SBC) for the second time in the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship in the final consolation game at Lamson Park on Friday evening by a score of 9-5 in nine innings.

The victory sets up a rematch with Louisiana in the championship game on Saturday afternoon. The two programs have played in each of the last two Sun Belt title games, Louisiana has won both.

"This team has been resilient all season long," head coach Ricci Woodard said. "I have never felt that we are out of a game. Hats off to Troy, they play with so much energy. They are a great ball team and we knew that it was going to be really tough today. I am so proud of the fight that I saw from our group tonight."

After being no-hit through the first three innings of the game, the Bobcat bats came alive in the top of the fourth inning. Bailee Carter broke Texas State's tournament run of nearly 12 full innings without a hit with a sharply hit single over the third baseman's head. Four pitches later, Mari Cranek drove her first home run of the season over the wall in right field to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Haleigh Davis roped a double off the wall in left field on the next pitch thrown by Troy, giving Texas State three hits in the inning.

Troy bounced right back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs on three hits. The Trojans secured a bunt single with one out on a ball just out of the reach of a diving MacKay. After a walk, Erica Davis singled down the left field line to cut the Bobcat lead to 2-1. Kaylee Hussey followed up the RBI single with a three-run home run that snuck over the fence in left center field.

In the top of the sixth inning, Carter laced a sharply hit single into center field. Cranek drew a walk to give the Bobcats a pair of runners on with one out. Davis successfully moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt towards third base. Coach Woodard went to the bench to bring ArieAnn Bell in as a pinch hitter for Kennedy Cline. Bell delivered a two-RBI double down the first base line to even the score. Cline, who reentered for Bell, scored the go-ahead run in the inning on an RBI double from Brianna Sannem.

Once again, Troy was up to the task. Katie Webb looped a single into left field with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kyndal Riddick entered the game to pinch run for the Trojans. She advanced to third on a pair of passed balls on outside pitches. Davis drove a single back up the middle to score Riddick from third and tie the game up at 5-5.

Finally, the Bobcats were able to put the Trojans away in the top of the ninth inning. Texas State scored four runs on three hits in the frame. Tara Oltmann started the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third on an error from the Troy center fielder. The next two Bobcats, Carter and Cranek, each walked to load the bases with no outs. Davis lined the game-winning single into center field, scoring Oltmann from third. Cline tacked on two insurance runs with a single through the left side to score both Carter and Cranek. Ariel Ortiz added the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Davis from third with ease.

Meagan King threw 3.1 innings of relief after Randi Rupp pitched the first 5.2 innings of the game. Rupp allowed four earned runs, six hits and a walk while striking out six Trojan batters. King yielded four hits but struck out four batters out of the bullpen. The freshman threw 48 total pitches, 42 went for strikes, including the final pitch. She struck out the final batter of the game with the bases loaded.

Next up, Texas State will take on host and second-seeded Louisiana in the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship title game. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch and can be watched on ESPN+.

For all things Texas State softball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Senior pitcher Randi Rupp was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award on April 5, 2018. She was selected as one of 10 finalists who were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this month. Nationwide fan voting has begun to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 14. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipient for softball will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Women's College World Series® in Oklahoma City, May 31 through June 6.