AUSTIN, Texas –  Texas State softball suffered a loss to #1 Texas on Thursday afternoon despite a third inning comeback effort that found the game tied, and taking a lead in the 5^th. After trailing 3-0 after two innings, the Bobcats battled back, but a late rally again by the Longhorns ended the game 6-4.

Piper Randolph led the Bobcats with two hits, she scored one of the four runs as well. Karmyn Bass had a big 2 RBI single in the third that tied the game, leading the Bobcats in RBI. Anna Jones and JJ Smith each had an RBI on their hits as well.

Jessica Mullins and Maddy Azua split time in the circle, with Mullins tossing four innings and Azua tossing two. Mullins allowed four earned runs off six hits with just one strikeout. Azua allowed a run off one hit and struck out one batter.

The Bobcats return to play Friday, April 12 against #21 Louisiana in the first game of a three-game series. Game one will start at 6 pm inside Bobcat Softball Stadium. All three games of the series will be on ESPN+.

What head coach Ricci Woodard said: "We knew coming in here that we were going to need to score runs. You'd like to think that four is going to be enough, but with what Texas is doing offensively you've just got to keep punching. And we didn't punch very much there at the end of the ball game. I feel like if we would have, we could've given ourselves a chance to win still. But we didn't, and again, that's a good ball club. I thought we played a really good ball game."

How it Happened

Hannah Earls got things started for the Bobcats with a leadoff single. Following her up was Piper Randolph, who was walked. Sara Vanderford flied out to center, but Anna Jones was walked to load the bases. Karmyn Bass reached on a fielder's choice as Earls was thrown out at third. The Bobcats stranded three runners as JJ Smith grounded out for the final out of the inning.

Mullins retired three straight in the top half of the inning, with an assist from Sydney Harvey who laid out for a diving catch to get the third out.

The Bobcats were retired in order in the second, and Texas was able to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning. After a Vivi Martinez double that scored Reese Atwood after a Vanderford throwing error, they got up 1-0.  They'd add a second run when Vanderford threw to first trying to get an out, but with Smith off the bag she was unsuccessful. After a single and another error, Texas found a third run in the inning. Mullins walked the bases loaded with two outs, but a foul out catch by Vanderford got them out of the inning without further damage.

Texas State worked on its come back in the top half of the third. Earls once again started things off reaching base, this time getting on from a throwing error. Randolph singled to right to advance Earls and get two on base, they'd advance bases on Vanderford's ground out. Earls would score an RBI single and capitalize on a defensive miscommunication to still get on base. Karmyn Bass tied the game with a 2 RBI single to left field that scored Jones and Randolph. 

In the bottom of the inning, Mullins had a three-pitch strikeout on Reese Atwood and got out of the inning without allowing a run scored. 

In the top of the 5^th, JJ Smith was able to put the 'Cats ahead. She flew a ball out to right field and despite a Longhorn outfielder almost making the catch, they dropped the ball and Bass was able to score on the play to take a 4-3 lead.

After Mullins gave up a walk and a single in the bottom of the 5^th, head coach Ricci Woodard opted to bring on Maddy Azua. From there, she gave up a single to load the bases. The Longhorns would score on a ground out and a wild pitch. The Longhorns tallied a 6-4 lead off an RBI single to finish their three-run inning. 

Texas State went three up, three down in the 6^th inning. Azua walked one batter in the bottom of the 6^th, but they scored no runs. 

In the top of the 7^th, Randolph laid a bunt down to get on base, but it didn't matter when she got out while Jones' reached on a fielder's choice. Bass lined out to second base for the third and final out, ending the game with the Bobcats trailing 6-4.

Texas State is now 32-10 on the season and will return home to face Louisiana on the weekend.