AUSTIN, Texas — Both the mythical — and physical clocks — struck midnight on the Texas State softball program's 2021 season Saturday, May 24 as the Bobcats fell to No. 11 Texas, 6-0, and No. 10 Oregon, 2-0, in the Austin Regional of the 2021 NCAA Softball Championships.
"I think, when you get to finish your season at this spot, you try to stick to the positives and that's what I told the team," Texas State softball head coach
Ricci Woodard said. "I liked the way we battled and the way we went at it today. A couple of things needed to go our way, that didn't and those things could have put us in a different spot.
"At the end of the day, I thought we battled really well and that's all I can ask out of them."
Texas State (39-14) started its day with a three-hour weather delay, before it opened up Saturday's action against the Longhorns (41-11). The prolonged start to the day resulted in the Bobcats allow three unearned runs through the game's first three innings.
Texas added three more three innings later on a two-run home run and a bases-loaded walk.
Sara Vanderford's double on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth inning marked the 18th double on the season for the Bobcat second baseman, which moved her into second of the program's single-season doubles list.
Vanderford's double was Texas State's lone extra-base hit against the Longhorns as
Piper Randolph and
Kylie George were both credited with singles in the first and fourth innings, respectively.
Nearly 11 hours after initially arriving to McCombs Field, the Bobcats, again, had to wait as its slated 9 p.m. CT game against the Oregon-St. Francis (PA) winner was delayed by 42 minutes as the Ducks' victory took longer than the estimated two hours.
Following its win over the Flashers, Oregon (39-16) broke through in the run column with a two-run top of the second inning against the Bobcats, that including the fourth unearned run in 8.1 innings through the point in the evening.
The Bobcats attempted to rally in the bottom half of the frame after back-to-back walks to
Hailey MacKay and
Samara Lagway put runners on base with no outs. Following a fielder's choice that erased pinch-runner
Molly Damiani at third, the next two Texas State batters went down swinging to end the inning.
Texas State continued to get at least one baserunner on base every inning while senior
Meagan King (12-6) went on to pitch five straight scoreless innings to keep the Bobcats within striking distance
George moved into scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning after stealing second base following a one-out single. But another strikeout left her there.
Hannah Earls, like her fellow slapper George, attempted to spark a rally an inning later when she drew a two-out walk, but another strikeout halted the inning.
After King capped her Bobcat career with a signature inning in which she retired opposing batters in order, the Texas State offense did the same in the bottom half of the seventh inning to close out the game and the Bobcats' season.
