SAN MARCOS, Texas | South Alabama saw its seven-game win streak come to an end Saturday as Texas State took game two, 6-2 at Bobcat Stadium Saturday afternoon and even the Sun Belt Conference series.
South Alabama falls to 21-10 and 4-1 in the SBC, while Texas State moves to 20-12-1 and 1-3-1 in league play.
Quotable – head coach Becky Clark
- On Saturday's game: "I thought today was somewhat of a let down. I didn't think we made adjusments at the plate and we gave in too much on the mound and on defense. We still have some of the mental game to figure out. This series is big for both teams, so tomorrow's game is a gut check for us."
Texas State 6, South Alabama 2
Meredith Keel walked on five pitches to lead off the game, who then moved into scoring position on a ground out.
Victoria Ortiz then drew the second walk of the inning for the Jags, but Karsen Pierce (4-2) was able to get a double play to end the inning.
South Alabama tried to work some two-out magic its next time up as
Stephanie Gonzalez lined a single that was just inside the third base bag and
Bailey Welch dropped in a single that was just out of reach of the center fielder's glove, but Pierce was able to get a ground out to leave the two Jag runners stranded.
After being held to just one hit the first time through the order by Jag starter
Jenna Hardy (10-6), Texas State scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third. Katarina Zarete led off the inning with a single to left who then moved to second on a ground out one batter later. The Bobcats then put runners at the corner with one out on an infield single by Ciara Trahan, and Hannah Earls gave Texas State a 1-0 advantage with an RBI single back up the middle. Earls then stole second to put runners at second and third, before a two-run single by Piper Randolph (3-0).
Anna Jones began the bottom of the fourth with another single back up the middle – the fourth of the game for Texas State – and JJ Smith walked. Both runners then advanced and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Two batters later, Megan Kelnar doubled just inside the right field line to plate an unearned run and extend the Bobcat advantage to four.
Marley Sims walked with one out in the fifth, and Keel then doubled down the line in right. After stopping at third on the play, Sims made a heads up play and advanced home on the throw back in the infield to put the Jags on the board (1-4).
Mackenzie Brasher then singled and later stole second to put runners at second and third, but Bobcat reliever Tori McCann entered the game and struck out the next two batters she faced.
Texas State tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Zarete beat out a one-out, infield single and with two outs, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Earl then delivered an RBI single to center to extend the lead out to four again (5-1). The Bobcats added another run on a wild pitch and an errant throw to third (1-6).
Sims reached on an error with one out in the top of the seventh, and with two outs Brasher singled to center to bring Sims in from second (2-6). That was all the runs South would get as McCann picked up the save with a ground out back to the circle.
Scoring Summary
•   3rd Inn | Earls singled back up the middle, RBI; Zarate scored (0-1, TXST)
•   3rd Inn | Randolph singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Trahan scored and Earls scored (0-3, TXST)
•   4th Inn | Kelnar doubled to right, RBI; Jones scored, unearned (0-4, TXST)
•   5th Inn | Keel doubled down right field line, no RBI; Sims advanced to third, scored on the throw (1-4, USA)
•   6th Inn | Earls singled to center field; RBI; Zarete scored (1-5, TXST)
•   6th Inn | Earls scored on a wild pitch and an error by c, unearned (1-6, TXST)
•   7th Inn | Brasher singled to center, RBI; Sims scored, unearned (2-6, USA)
Postgame Notes
•   The first five batters in the Texas State lineup were responsible for seven of the team's 11 hits
•   Gonzalez was making her first start since the season opener against Louisville
•   With her leadoff walk to start the game, Keel has now reached base safely in eight of her last nine outings
•   Ortiz matched a season best with her first-inning walk as she reached base for her eighth straight game and the 11th in her last 12
•   Sims has reached base safely in 20 of her last 28 with her walk
•   Keel has had at least one hit in 21 of South's 31 games
•   Brasher has had a hit six straight and at least one in 11 of her last 14 games, while also reaching base safely in 12 of those contests
•   The multi-hit game was also the 36th of Brasher's career moving her into a tie for 10th in the category with Jenny Stevens (36, 2007-08, '11)
Up Next
•   South Alabama will close out the series versus Texas State on Sunday with first pitch for game three of the series set for 12 p.m.
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