SAN MARCOS, Texas –  Texas State softball lost its first conference series of the year with a 6-0 loss to Louisiana on Saturday afternoon.
 
Despite the Bobcats holding the Ragin' Cajuns scoreless in five innings, a two-run third and four-run sixth inning forced the Bobcats to take the 6-0 loss and lose their first conference series of the season.
 
What Head Coach Ricci Woodard said: "We know they're going to be aggressive, we have to counteract that. Pitching is easier if you have runs on the board, hitting is easier if you have runs on the board, we have to do a better job earlier in the ball game of controlling the ball game. [Louisiana] is doing a great job of controlling the ball game."

How it Happened

Maddy Azua started in the circle for the Bobcats and was able to get out of the inning without allowing any runs, despite getting two runners on base. After the Bobcats were unable to get anyone on base in the bottom half of the inning, Azua retired three-straight in the top of the 2^nd.

JJ Smith was walked as the Bobcats first person to get on base in the second.

The Ragin' Cajuns got two runs in the third, though. After hitting the first batter and walking the second, they both advanced on a wild pitch to put two runners in scoring position. The Ragin' Cajuns would score their first run on a ground out to Kat Zarate at second base. They'd score another on a wild pitch from Azua.

The Bobcats for their first hit of the game in the bottom of the 5^th inning when Karmyn Bas singled down the right field line. She'd be stranded after Emilee Baker struck out.

Louisiana's bats came alive in the 6^th. After their second better hit a single, she'd advance on a ground out. With two outs, they'd single to right again, scoring their first run. On the next at-bat, they'd hit a home run to left for two more RBI. When coming back to the top of the order, they'd get another single. At this point, Tori McCann came in to pitch. She'd give up an RBI triple down the right field line for the Ragin' Cajuns final run of the night. 

In the bottom of the 6^th, the Bobcats were able to get two runners on, Hannah Earls and Piper Randolph. These two reaching extended their reach base streaks to 23 and 16 games, respectively. Earls hit a single to second base, while Randolph reached on a fielder's choice when getting Earls out at second. Randolph was stranded when Sara Vanderford flied out to right field.

Neither side put any runs on the board in the 7^th, finalizing the 6-0 win for the Ragin' Cajuns. The Bobcats are now 32-12 on the season and 9-5 in conference play.
The team will return to play Sunday, April 14 against Louisiana in the third game of a three-game series. The game will start at 12 pm inside Bobcat Softball Stadium. This game will honor graduating seniors JJ Smith and Jessica Mullins.