AUSTIN – Texas State softball opened its 2023 Regional appearance with an extra-inning loss to Texas A&M. The Bobcats held a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh inning, but two late-game runs from the Aggies would be the decider. The Bobcats will face the Seton Hall Pirates tomorrow, May 20th, at 4:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
 
"We played a good game, good enough to keep us in the ball game," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "[Texas] A&M played a good enough ball game to keep themselves in things. I thought all the way around, both ball clubs played good ball games."
 
The game started off well for the Bobcats when Ciara Trahan singled the second pitch of the game to center field. She'd advance on Megan Kelnar's bunt, but Sara Vanderford flying out and Karmyn Bass popping up would strand Trahan on second.
 
Jessica Mullins started in the circle for the Bobcats and allowed two walks and a single to open the game. She'd allow runners in scoring position, but when Kelnar made a play at home things stayed scoreless despite allowing runners on.
 
Things became a chess match through the middle of the games. Both sides defense showed out and either side had just one hit in the second and third innings.  
 
In the bottom of the third, Woodard opted to bring on Tori McCann in the circle.
 
"Tori came in and pitched a great couple of innings," Woodard said. "The plan was always to bring her in in the middle and she did well."
 
In the top of the 5^th, JJ Smith hit a double to left field on the first pitch of her at-bat for her 6^th extra-base hit of the season. She would also be left on, though, after Piper Randolph got out on the next at-bat.
 
In the 6^th the Bobcats scored their lone run of the game. Hannah Earls got on base after an error by the Aggies' pitcher. She'd advance to second on Trahan's at-bat and third on a wild pitch. Ultimately, Kelnar flew out to the right field for the sacrifice fly to allow Earls to advance home.
In the 7^th the Bobcats nearly had closed the game out but fell just short. Mullins came back in to pitch after the leadoff batter for the Aggies hit a single. From there, the Bobcats had two outs but allowed a run on a first-pitch single by the Aggies. 
 
"The idea was there, the execution wasn't, and we got beat because of it," Vanderford said. "If we swing the bats better earlier in the game and make adjustments as coach tells us to do, then we're not in that spot."
 
After the tying run in the 7^th inning, the game went to an eighth extra-inning.
 
The Bobcats went three up, three down and were looking for a defensive showing to close the game, but to no avail. After giving up a triple with two outs, the next batter hit a single on the next pitch to allow the next runner to score and end the game.
 
"Credit to the Aggies," Woodard said. "They kept themselves in that game the whole way."
 
The Bobcats will face Seton Hall tomorrow, May 20^th, at 4:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and have a radio broadcast on KTSW. The winner of that game will face the loser of the Texas and Texas A&M game played prior at 2 p.m.