SAN MARCOS — Texas State softball could not overcome a one-run deficit against the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns, falling 3-2.
Texas State infielder Keely Williams stood on second as the tying run in the seventh inning with one out. Designated hitter Kamryn Bass barrelled a ball to right field that was caught, and Williams hesitated before trying to take third base. The Longhorns caught her on the base paths to end the game.
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The Bobcats struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Facing one of the best lineups in the nation, Texas State ace Madison Azua allowed no earned runs through five innings, with Texas’ lone score coming on a throwing error by shortstop Sami Hood.
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan picked up the win, coming in as relief and holding Texas State’s bats hitless for 3 1/3 innings.
Azua gave up back-to-back solo home runs in the sixth by catcher Reese Atwood and infielder Katie Stewart, which gave Texas a 3-2 lead. Emma Strood came in for relief, holding the Longhorns bats at bay for the rest of the game.
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Here’s a recap of Texas State’s loss.
Texas State infielder Kate Bubela (24) runs home for a score after a home run during the game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Bobcat Softball Stadium on Thursday, February. 26, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Williams draws a leadoff walk. Harvey lays down a sacrifice bunt, and Williams takes second. Bass lines a ball into right field, which is caught. Williams tries for third base, but is easily caught out on the base paths to end the game.
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Maloney flies out to centerfield. Harvey makes a diving catch in center to steal a hit away from Henry. Strood sends Goode down swinging to bring up the bottom of the seventh.
Zarate is hit by a pitch for the second time this game. Mel Reeves steps in as a pinch runner. Bubela strikes out swinging, as does Kelnar. Hood battles, eventually going down swinging as well.
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Atwood and Stewart hit two consecutive solo home runs to give Texas a 3-2 lead. Emma Strood comes in for Azua. She strikes out Wells to begin her outing. Martinez fouls out. MaTaia Lawson comes in as a pinch hitter. She flies out to left, bringing up the Bobcat bats.
Harvey leads off the bottom of the inning with a walk. Bass hits a weak ball that Martinez catches. Coleman strikes out swinging on three pitches. Vestal hits a grounder that the shortstop takes to second for the third out.
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Henry flies out to left field. Goode barrels a ball to right field, but Williams catches it at the warning track. Azua wins a 10-pitch battle against Altmeyer, who flies out to left.
Vestal fouls out. Salmon hits Zarate with a pitch, and she takes first. Bubela strikes out on three pitches. Kelnar draws a walk. Texas ace Teagan Kavan takes the circle. Williams strikes out swinging, stranding three.
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Bubela handles a weak groundball that should be an out, but she makes an error on the throw, allowing Atwood to advance to second. Stewart walks for a second time. Taylor Anderson pinch runs for Atwood. Wells pops out to shallow center. Hood makes a diving stop to prevent Martinez’s hit from reaching the outfield, but she makes a throwing error, allowing a run to score.
Adayah Wallace pinch runs for Stewart. Kelnar catches a short foul pop-up for the second out. A groundout strands two Texas runners.
Shortstop Sami Hood lines a single into left. Williams walks again, and right-hander Cambria Salmon replaces Gutierrez in the circle. Harvey strikes out looking. Bass lines a single into center, loading the bases for Coleman. She hits a double-play ball to second, but the throw to first is dropped. Two runs score as the Longhorns tag Coleman out at second.
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Henry hits a weak grounder, beating out Zarate’s throw to first. Zarate scoops up a grounder, taking it to the bag herself and throwing it to first for a double-play. Atwood grounds out to end the top of the third.
Second baseman Katarina Zarate pops out to shallow left field. Third baseman Kate Bubela grounds out to second. Catcher Megan Kelnar hits a chopper to third, which Nichols fields and zips to first base.
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First baseman Katie Stewart walks to lead off the second. Hannah Wells flies out to left. Azua hits hortstop Viviana Martinez with a pitch, and third baseman Jaycie Nichols advances the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Azua tips up a grounder that bounces toward her, catches it and connects with Coleman for the third out.
Right fielder Keely Williams draws a leadoff walk. Left fielder Sydney Harvey lays down a sacrifice bunt to put Williams on second base. Kamryn Bass walks. First baseman Aiyana Coleman hits a blooper that the shortstop catches. Left fielder Harley Vestal flies out to left.
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Azua strikes out Texas centerfielder Kayden Henry to begin the game. Second baseman Leighann Goode draws a walk. Left fielder Kaiah Altmeyer pops out to the infield. Catcher Resse Atwood fouls out, bringing up the Bobcat bats.
CF Kayden Henry
2B Leighann Goode
LF Kaiah Altmeyer
C Reese Atwood
1B Katie Stewart
DH Hannah Wells
SS Viviana Martinez
3B Jaycie Nichols
RF Ashton Maloney
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SP. RHP Citlaly Gutierrez
RF Keely Williams
CF Sydney Harvey
DH Karmyn Bass
1B Aiyana Coleman
LF Harley Vestal
2B Kat Zarate
3B Kate Bubela
C Megan Kelner
SS Sami Hood
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