Texas State drops final two games at Coastal Carolina

Texas State pulled out a 5-3 win to take the first game against Coastal Carolina on Friday. But the Bobcats dropped both Saturday and Sunday’s road games, 7-4 and 12-2 (five innings), respectively, giving the Chanticleers the series win.

The visitors got off to a solid start on Saturday. The team loaded the base to begin the second inning and a walk by senior outfielder Kennedy Cline allowed junior infielder Hailey MacKay to score the first run of the game. 

Senior outfielder Mari Cranek grounded out to bring sophomore infielder ArieAnn Bell home in the next at bat to extend the lead to 2-0. But junior outfielder Christiana McDowell struck out swinging, ending the inning with two runners left in scoring position.

The hosts answered with a score in the next inning, then took the lead in the fifth with another four. They added two insurance runs in the sixth, leaving Texas State down 7-2 in the final frame. A double from junior infielder Bailee Carter allowed Cline and McDowell to score, but the Bobcats couldn’t tally enough runs to complete the rally, resulting in the 7-4 loss.

Cline finished the game batting 1-2 with one RBI. Junior starting pitcher Delilah Barrera (6-4) took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits despite striking out eight.

Saturday’s result meant Sunday would be the series-deciding game. Coastal Carolina set the tone early with three runs in the bottom of the first. The visitors got one back in the second, but the Chanticleers tacked on nine over the next two innings to go up 12-1. 

Freshman pinch hitter Cat Crenek used a fielder's choice to score sophomore infielder Tara Oltmann in the fifth inning, but the maroon and gold couldn’t bring another runner home, resulting in a 12-2 loss via run rule.

Oltmann went 1-1 at the plate, batting in a run in the second inning. Sophomore starter Meagan King was given the loss, as the hosts earned five runs on seven hits during her three innings.

Texas State (22-19, 10-7 Sun Belt) fell to fifth place in the conference after Sunday’s loss. The team will remain on the road for its next series as it travels to Statesboro, Georgia to take on Georgia Southern (19-21, 9-12). The first game is slated for Thursday at 5 p.m.