With a bases loaded RBI walk from sophomore pinch runner Bailee Slack, the No. 3-seeded Texas State Bobcats secured a trip to the Sun Belt Conference Championship title game after defeating the No. 10-seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 10-2 Friday evening at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La.
The Bobcats (38-19, 16-8 SBC) punched their ticket to the SBC Championship game for the first time since 2024 off the emergence of an awakened offense and the stellar pitching of junior Maddy Azua and senior Emma Strood.
On the other hand, the Chanticleers (26-31, 8-16 SBC) came into the game rolling with momentum of their own after multiple upset victories, including taking down No. 2-seeded Marshall yesterday afternoon, but to no avail against a red-hot Texas State squad.
After a nearly four hour long weather delay, Coastal Carolina opened the game with an early 1-0 lead off an unearned run from senior infielder Delaney Keith.
The Bobcats delivered a massive counterpunch of their own against the Chanticleers as they struck with six consecutive hits that tallied up a four-run inning all on two outs, led off by a two-run home run from redshirt junior second basemen Kat Zarate along with back-to-back RBI singles from senior designated player Karmyn Bass and catcher Megan Kelnar.
Texas State and Coastal Carolina kept each other off the scoreboard until the fourth inning as graduate designated player Kaelin Cash cut into the deficit with a solo home run for the Chanticleers, making it 4-2 in the top of the fourth.
The Maroon and Gold kept their momentum up with yet another high-scoring inning, taking advantage of errors and passed balls. Following an RBI single from freshman left fielder Harley Vestal, Bubela stepped up to plate and delivered a three-run home run to further drum up the score. By the end of the fourth, it was a 9-2 Bobcat advantage.
The Chanticleers were unable to add to the board as Azua only allowed one hit in the fifth inning. The Bobcats looked to score the final run, but left one on base to head into a sixth inning of play.
Strood stepped onto the circle for Texas State, leaving the Chanticleers scoreless in the sixth.
The ‘Cats were able to ultimately run-rule the Chanticleers off a bases-loaded walk, ending the defending tournament champions season while waltzing into what will be their final Sun Belt Conference Championship appearance before the move to the Pac-12.
Texas State will face the winner of South Alabama or Louisiana-Monroe in the SBC title game. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La. The championship game will be broadcasted on ESPN2.
