LAFAYETTE, Louisiana – Texas State softball will see its 2023 Sun Belt Tournament run come to an end following a 4-1 loss to the tournament hosts Louisiana. 
 
The Bobcats looked to have momentum through the opening inning, after Jessica Mullins forced contact on her pitches that saw two ground outs and a fly out, the Ragin' Cajuns went three up, three down to open the first inning.
 
From there, Megan Kelnar and Karmyn Bass were able to hit singles off Schorman, but the two would get left on when Anna Jones fouled out after Bass' single. 
 
"You can't afford to leave runners on against a team like the Cajuns," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "They're too good of a ball club to not score when you get people on."
 
Louisiana was able to take control of the game in the third inning. Their leadoff batter hit a single off the first pitch and steal second on the next at-bat. When a double down the left field line advanced their leadoff to third, it would be a two RBI double off a bunt that would give the Cajuns the 2-0 lead.
 
"Credit to Louisiana," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "They came out with a good game plan and executed it from the get-go."
 
The Bobcats pulled back a run in the third to make it a one-run game. Ciara Trahan singled up the middle to get things going, but it would be a double from Kelnar that would bring in the Bobcats lone run of the game. The double was the third of Kelnar's career.
 
Kelnar nearly tacked on a second run in the third, but off Bass' single up the middle, she would get called out at home. Kelnar ended the game with two hits, one RBI and went 2-3 on catching runners stealing from behind the plate.
 
The Cajuns added a third run on a double to left field paired with another single up the middle. Louisiana hit the final run of the game in the top of the 5^th when they hit a home run to left field.
 
Texas State was able to get three runners on with two in scoring position in the bottom of the 6^th inning, but the Cajuns' pitcher was able to strike Emilee Baker out to end the inning in a seven-pitch at-bat.
 
Neither side found any runs in the 7^th inning and the game would end 4-1 in favor of the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
The Bobcats will now wait to find out a potential postseason destination during the NCAA Division I Selection Show at 6 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, May 12. Texas State will be looking to make its 10th Division I Softball Tournament berth after not being selected in 2022. The Bobcats sit 39^th in the RPI ranking heading into the Selection Show.