CONWAY, S.C. – The Texas State softball team (22-18, 10-6 Sun Belt) fell victim to the powerful bats of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (30-12, 10-7 Sun Belt) in the second of three games at St. John Stadium on Saturday afternoon by a score of 7-4. CCU connected on three home runs in the game.

KEY MOMENTS
- Texas State pounced early for the second time in as many games against the Chants. A sharp single up the middle, a hit-by-pitch, and a bunt single loaded the bases for senior outfielder Kennedy Cline. She walked to bring in the first run. Senior outfielder Mari Cranek bounced out to shortstop to give the Cats a pair of run in the top of the second frame.
- Coastal gained a run back on TXST in the bottom of the third inning when freshman designated player Mackenzie Beyer hit a solo home run to center.
- The Chanticleers gained the lead for the first time in the series with a four-run fifth inning capped by a three-run homer off the bat of freshman outfielder Abbey Montoya.
- Sophomore infielder Taylor Sweigart tallied the third and final blast of the game. She sent a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- Junior infielder Bailee Carter attempted to spark a rally in the top of the seventh inning. She sliced a double to shallow left to score two runs. The RBI hit was the last of the game for TXST and brought the final tally to 7-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Junior pitcher Dalilah Barrera (6-4) was tagged with the loss after yielding five earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. She allowed six hits and three walks. Barrera fanned eight batters, including a string of six-straight outs in the first three innings of play.
- Texas State collected five hits in the game. Two came in the top of the second inning, while three remaining three were recorded in the top of the seventh inning. Both innings resulted in runs for the Bobcats.
- The Chanticleers plated six of the seven runs with two outs in an inning. The four-run fifth saw all four runs score with two away, while the sixth-inning insurance runs were also scored with a pair of outs.

NOTABLES
- Barrera made her first appearance in the circle since tossing 4.0 innings against Georgia State on March 30. She has recorded at least six strikeouts in six of her 18 appearances this season.
- The loss drops the Bobcats to 20-6 in games in which TXST strikes first on the scoreboard. The last such loss occurred in a 3-1 setback at South Alabama on March 16.
- Texas State falls to 6-1 in the all-time series against Coastal Carolina. The Bobcats are 3-1 in the Palmetto State.
- Coastal Carolina scored 10 runs through the first two games of the series, nine have come via five home runs. CCU is among the national leaders in total round-trippers this season with 64.

ON DECK
- The Bobcats will look to claim the series as the weekend continues with the rubber match against Coastal Carolina with a 11 a.m. CT first pitch on April 14.  

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