SAN MARCOS, Texas – It took Texas State softball 12 innings and nearly four hours of game play to finish its game with the Trojans, falling narrowly by a 4-3 scoreline with the difference maker being a solo home run in the top half of the inning.

JJ Smith had one of the RBI for the Bobcats, off a solo home run for one of her two hits of the day. Leading the hitting fot the Bobcats was Piper Randolph who had two RBI in her three hits, with one double and two singles.

Hannah Earls, Sydney Harvey and Anna Jones each had two hits apiece as well.
 
Jessica Mullins started on the mound for the Bobcats and tossed 6.2 innings, allowing three runs and striking out eight batters while walking four. She allowed just two extra-base hits. Maddy Azua closed the game, pitching the final 5.1 innings, allowing just one run with two strikeouts.

The Bobcats return to play Wednesday, April 10 against Texas in Austin. The game will start at 4:30 pm on Wednesday with a stream on the Longhorn Network.
 
What Head Coach Ricci Woodard said: "When you don't handle one mistake, we end up making two mistakes and it cost us a couple of runs. We talked about that, you have to play the game one pitch at a time and be able to move on to the next pitch.

How it Happened
The Bobcats had to battle back two different times in this one, ultimately to fall just short in the 12^th inning. Troy got the first run of the game in the second inning off a sacrifice fly after a double down the left field line got Anslee Finch two second base.

It took Texas State until the 4^th to find two runs and reclaim the lead. It all started from a full count homer to right center by Smith. This was her third home run in three days of this series versus Troy. She got the tying run to help the Bobcats get the lead in the 2^nd. Randolph tabbed the RBI to bat in Harvey who got on from a single to left.

After a defensive battle between the two sides through the 5^th and 6^th innings, Troy found a way back into the lead in the 7^th. After an error caused by miscommunication from Sara Vanderford led to a double turning into two runs by the Trojans, the Bobcats had to find a way to equalize the game. Maddy Azua came in to close out the inning.

Off none other than the first game-tying RBI's bat, Randolph doubled to left for the tying RBI. She scored Earls who reached on a bunt. Despite getting runners on second and third, the Bobcats were unable to bat in the winning run when Emilee Baker flew out to center field.

Troy was able to get a hit in the 8^th, but no runs. The Bobcats went three up, three down in the first extra inning.

Similarly, in the 9^th, the Trojans were able to get two runners on, but unable to score a run after a fly out. Vanderford was walked to get on base, but didn't get the chance to score after getting out on a double play after Bass flew out.

Azua retired three batters in the 10^th with two ground outs and a pop up, giving the Bobcats an opportunity to score again. Smith singled to right, but after the only other Bobcat to get on base was a walk by Kamden Hutton, the Bobcats were unable to tack on any runs.

Ultimately, it took 12 innings to find a winner. The Trojans hit a home run to left center to go up 4-3. The Bobcats got out of the inning with no more runs despite a double and a single after a double play.

In the bottom half of the inning, though, the Bobcats were shut down. Smith flew out followed by a Baker ground out. Hutton was walked in eight pitched, only to have Sydney Harvey ground out on her at bat.

After 12 innings, the Bobcats suffered their first home conference loss of the season. The team is now 32-9 on the season with a 9-3 record in conference play.