SAN MARCOS, TX — Texas State sophomore right-handed pitcher Jessica Mullins pitched as well as a softball student-athlete could, but one pitch was the deciding factor in the Bobcats' 1-0 loss to Louisiana Friday night. 

"It was a fun ballgame," Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard said. "Unfortunately, (Louisiana) capitalized on one pitch and we didn't. Timely hitting has been the thing for us all year and not having timely hitting has probably been the bigger key for us not winning ballgames. We have to do a better job there."

Mullins (12-10) retired nine of the first 10 batters of the high-octane Louisiana offense with the only blemish being a one-out single in the top of the third. 

Louisiana's Stormy Kotzelnick broke 0-0 tie when she sent a 3-2 pitch over the centerfield wall to start the top of the fourth inning. Jourdyn Campbell followed with a single to centerfield, but Mullins retired the next batter on the first pitch before inducing a groundball to force an inning-ending double play. 

Ciara Trahan looked in prime position to bring Texas State (18-14, 5-5) back as the true freshman broke up the no-hitter by the Ragin' Cajuns' Sam Landry (10-2) with a single to right field to start the bottom of the fourth. Trahan, like Kylie George in the bottom of the third inning, worked her way to second base but was left in scoring position. 

After Mullins tossed back-to-back scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth inning, the momentum turned back in favor of the Bobcats in their half of the sixth. 

Hannah Earls added another statistic to the hit column with an infield single to start the inning. Earls, then, advanced to third on a throwing error by Louisiana's Sophie Piskos after Sara Vanderford drew a walk. Vanderford, representing the potential go-ahead run, advanced a base moments later when she stole second with only one out. 

However, after forcing Louisiana's Meghan Schorman (S, 2) to throw 13 additional pitches, Anna Jones and Caitlyn Rogers were unable to score Earls and Vanderford. 

Texas State didn't go down without a fight, though, as Samara Lagway recorded the Bobcats' fourth hit on the evening with a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh. Lagway, then, departed for a pinch-runner in Cat Crenek, who later stole second during George's at bat. But Crenek was stranded at second at George went down looking. 

Texas State and Louisiana will tangle, again, on the diamond as the two will play on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. CT. 

FOLLOW US

For the latest information on the team, follow @TXStateSoftball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.