SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State held a one-run lead entering the final inning, but a home run in the top of the seventh by South Alabama helped give the Jaguars a 2-1 win on Friday at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
Hannah Earls drove in the lone run for the Bobcats (19-12-1, 0-3-1 Sun Belt) in the second inning and starting pitcher Jessica Mullins carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but the Jaguars (21-9, 4-9 Sun Belt) erased the narrow margin with a single and home run among the first two batters in the seventh.
 
The Bobcats had a runner on base in four of the first five innings, but South Alabama starting pitcher Olivia Lackie retired seven straight Bobcat hitters to end the game and did not surrender a hit after the fourth inning.
 
"They made adjustments, and we didn't," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "We can't do the same thing three bats in a row. One pitch executing on the offensive side and one pitch on the defensive side is going to change a ball game."
 
The Bobcats used a bases-loaded situation in the second inning to score their one run. Piper Randolph got the inning started for the Bobcats with a single up the middle and then advanced to second with a single from J.J. Smith. The bases were loaded following a single down left field line from Emilee Baker with two outs. Earls then answered the call with a single up the middle to drive in Randolph and make it 1-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Randolph had her second hit of the night with a bunt single, but she was caught stealing second for the second out of the inning. The hit was the last one for the Bobcats as the only other base runner was via a walk dranw by Ciara Trahan in the fifth.
 
Mullins, in her 10th complete game of the season, retired 13 straight to start her outing and 18 of her first 19 batters faced.
 
South Alabama gained the advantage in the final inning when it got its first hit of the game with a leadoff single to right field by Mackenzie Brasher. The next batter, Victoria Ortiz, then gave South Alabama the lead with a two-run home run to left field to put the Jaguars up 2-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the bottom of the Texas State lineup went 1-2-3.
 
The Bobcats had six hits on the day and left five on base, while the Jaguars had two hits and left one on base.
 
Mullins finished four strikeouts and one walk in the seven innings pitched.
 
UP NEXT: Texas State continues the series with South Alabama on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bobcat Softball Stadium.