HUNTINGTON, W.Va – The Bobcats fell just short with a one-run loss against Marshall on Saturday afternoon. The loss came from a fifth-inning homerun that would be the final scoring play of the game.

Despite the result, the game started off well for the Bobcats. Ciara Trahan started things off earning a base hit on the second pitch of the game. She'd advance on a wild pitch and score on Sara Vanderford's bunt.
 
Tori McCann started in the circle for the Bobcats where she'd allow two hits and a walk in the first inning but fight to keep the Herd off the board despite having the bases loaded. She'd strike out one batter and force another into a ground out to preserve the 1-0 lead.
 
Marshall would go three up, three down with one strike out in the second to head to the third inning preserving the Bobcats 1-0 lead.
 
Texas State was able to get two hits in the third but added no runs to its tally. Marshall found an equalizing run off a double to right field that advanced Bickel home. With two runners on base and one out, McCann would throw a strikeout and ground out to close out the inning.
 
Both sides went three up, three out in the fourth. The Bobcats would get struck out twice in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth the Bobcats made a pitching change, bringing on Presley Glende for McCann. 
 
The Herd hit a home run to take the lead. On the first pitch of her at-bat, Autumn Owens would send the pitch out to left center, hitting the scoreboard, to take the lead.
 
JJ Smith hit a double in the 6^th but it wasn't enough to get on the board. In the bottom of the 6^ththe Bobcat defense showed out, though. Glende struck out the first batter up in three pitches. Next up, Smith made a stand-up play to catch a lineout. To close things out on a five-pitch inning, Piper Randolph would make a backwards diving catch toward the outfield fence to end the inning.
 
Unfortunately, despite two seventh inning hits, the Bobcats were unable to score a tying run and force the heard to play the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Texas State now sits at 30-21-1 on the season with a 10-7-1 record in conference play. The Bobcats will fight to win the series in the finale tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT) on Dot Hicks Field.
 
Following the series with Marshall the Bobcats will return home to close the 2023 regular season slate with a three-game series versus James Madison. The weekend series will start May 4^thinside Bobcat Stadium. All three games will be available to stream on ESPN+.