Thus far, the UL-Texas State softball series has been as hotly contested as expected.
Perhaps it’s fitting that the noon game Sunday is the rubber game after the Ragin’ Cajuns suffered a 3-2 decision against Texas State on Saturday in San Marcos, Texas.
That came one day after UL rallied to take a 5-4 win in eight innings on Friday night.
After splitting the first two games, UL is now 24-24 overall and 10-10 in league play. The Bobcats are 31-17 and 13-7.
The Cajuns took a 1-0 in the fourth on Saturday when Dayzja Williams tripled and scored on an error.
But Texas State responded in its half of the fourth with a two-run homer from Megan Kelnar with two outs off of UL starter Sam Ryan for a 2-1 lead.
Ryan pitched effectively overall but saw her record slip to 5-5 after yielding two runs on two hits, three walks and no strikeouts in four innings.
Tyra Clary pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits, two walks and striking out one. That run came in the fifth on an RBI double from Erin Peterson.
Emily Smith homered in the sixth for the Cajuns, but UL still fell one run short.
The night before, the Cajuns had some late-game magic.
After scoring two runs in the fifth to tie the game, the Cajuns got a two-out RBI single from Smith after getting two runners thrown out at the plate in the top of the eighth.
The UL defense turned a double play to secure the win in the bottom of the eighth inning.
UL's rally in the fifth was sparked by leadoff singles from Williams and Smith. After a Sam Roe fly out moved up one runner and McKayla Ferguson stole a base, Kayla Falterman’s ground ball to second was botched to chase home both runners for a 4-4 tie.
Smith finished the game 4 for 5 with an RBI while Williams was 3 for 4 and Mia Liscano 2 for 4.
Mallory Wheeler lasted the first 5â…” innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, six walks and one strikeout. Clary (6-5) got the win with two shutout innings, surrendering one hit and two walks.
