Box Score LAFAYETTE, La. – Texas State softball came up short in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Championship game, suffering a 3-2 loss to the South Alabama Jaguars.

How It Happened:
Maddy Azua started in the circle for the Bobcats and retired the side in order before the Bobcats came to bat. Texas State got a hit and two walks to put runners on but were unable to plate any runs and stranded the bases loaded.

Azua recorded her first strikeout of the night in the 2^nd to end the inning before the Bobcats were retired in the order in the bottom half of the inning.

Both teams found extra base hits in the second, with Brooklyn Bockhaus hitting a triple and Aiyana Coleman hitting a double. Coleman's double was nearly a home run, but the Jaguar's centerfielder batted the ball down at the fence to keep Coleman to a double. 

South Alabama scored three runs off an RBI single and a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Texas State got a baserunner in the fourth, but left Bass stranded after a pair of strikeouts and a ground out.

Strood came in to pitch in the fifth after Azua hit the first batter she faced. Strood gave up a hit, but an assist on a putout from Williams got Texas State out of the inning without surrendering a run. In the bottom half of the inning, Texas State got on the board with a Coleman RBI single to make it a 3-1 game. 

After allowing a leadoff single, Strood got a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to keep the Jags off the board in the 6^th. Texas State once again loaded the bases in the 6^th, but left the runners stranded after a strikeout from Sami Hood.

Strood retired the side in order in the 7^th. Zarate drew a run back in the 7^th with a solo home run, but it wasn't enough to put the Bobcats back in the game. In the end, South Alabama held on to a 3-2 win.

Texas State is now 38-20 on the season.

Up Next
Texas State will wait to see if it is selected in the Selection Show on Sunday, May 10 at 6 pm (CT). The show will be streamed on ESPN2 with the Bobcats hoping to make their third postseason appearance in the last three seasons. Regionals will be May 15-17 at campus sites. For the most up to date schedule information stay tuned to txst.com.