SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team (2-2) could not overcome a four-run top of the 10th inning from the North Dakota State Bison (3-1) and fell by a score of 4-3 on Monday evening at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

Junior infielder Hailey MacKay carried the offensive load for the Bobcats after belting a three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning. The round-tripper was the first hit by a Texas State batter this season. She finished the game 1-for-4 with three RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Meagan King (0-2) was tremendous despite being handed the loss. She pitched a career-high 9.2 innings. In the first nine innings of work she allowed four hits and struck out three batters. She was credited with four earned runs before being pulled in the top of the 10th inning.

Junior outfielder Madyson Camacho was the lone offensive player on either roster to find consistent success at the play. She went 3-for-5 in the game and scored one run.

Freshman pitcher Paige Vargas (1-0) went the distance for the Bison, pitching all 10.0 innings for the visitors. She yielded three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out a game-high seven Bobcats.

Both King and Vargas held the two offenses in check for the first nine innings. Each player allowed just four hits through nine innings before the offenses came to life in the 10th.

King appeared to be out of the 10th with no damage done before a drop-third strike put a baserunner on with two gone in the home half of the inning. Camacho charted her third hit of the evening on a sharp single to the shortstop. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases and scored the first run of the game, senior infielder Vanessa Anderson delivered the decisive blow. She laced a three-RBI double to right field to give the Bison a four-run inning.

Texas State attempted to rally in the bottom of the inning but fell just short. Freshman designated player Cat Crenek and junior outfielder Christiana McDowell opened the inning with a single and double, respectively, to give the Cats runners on second and third with no outs. After two outs, MacKay blasted a home run down the left field line to bring the score to the final of 4-3. TXST stranded two runners on base to end the game.

Up next, the Bobcats will play at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 against San Jose State as part of the 2019 Troy Cox Classic.

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