SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team (29-24) fell just short against the No. 7 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (48-4) in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championship on Thursday afternoon at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcat comeback effort fell one run short as TXST lost 4-3.

KEY MOMENTS
- The Bobcats struck early in the top of the first inning with an unearned run. Junior outfielder Christiana McDowell reached on an error before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from junior infielder Hailey MacKay.
- Louisiana found the equalizer in the bottom half of the frame with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
- The next two runs of the ballgame came in unconventional ways. TXST broke the tie when freshman pinch runner Molly Damiani raced home to score on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth. LA once again found the tying run, this one via passed ball.
- The Ragin' Cajuns plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to gain the lead for the first time. Senior infielder Lexie Comeaux and sophomore infielder Kourtney Gremillion each tallied RBI hits.
- Texas State made the game in the interesting the top of the seventh. Freshman pinch hitter Cat Crenek reached first via bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. She slid home on an RBI single through the right side from senior outfielder Mari Cranek to make the score 4-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Bobcats utilized two pitchers with each pitcher lasting 3.0 innings in the circle. Junior pitcher Dalilah Barrera (9-6) was credited with the loss after earning the start. She coughed up three earned runs on three hits and three walks. Sophomore pitcher Meagan King entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks.
- MacKay and Cranek each shoulder the offensive load for the Bobcats. Each player went 1-for-2 at the dish with an RBI. Cranek reached a second time when she was hit by a pitch.
- Bobcat pitching held the Cajuns to 0-for-3 with the bases loaded. Louisiana stranded nine runs in the game and went 3-for-11 (.273) with runners in scoring position.  

NOTABLES
- Texas State falls to 1-6 all-time against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The lone Bobcat victory came in the 2018 title game.
- Freshman designated Samara Lagway improved her season-best on-base streak to seven games with a walk drawn in top of the second inning.

ON DECK
- Texas State will continue in the tournament with an elimination game clash against UT Arlington at 10 a.m. on May 10. The remainder of the schedule is still to be determined.

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