The regular season title of the Sun Belt Conference was on the line on Saturday as the Texas Bobcats were trying to continue their momentum with Louisiana Monroe after their seventh five innings.
As Friday's match is delayed on Saturday due to bad weather, the final two games of the regular season will be placed together as double headers for the ultimate battle between the two teams best in the conference.
Game 1
Maddie Azua began the Bobcats' game in the penultimate matchup, pitching six innings, hitting the Warhawks in the process. She earned three run credits and gave up 10 hits, but Azua scored points for the majority of the game and was praised for her 20th victory of the season.
Ayana Coleman stood alone, crushing the 16th home run of the season to the left field, making history with a bat swing at the top of the first innings when Ariel Ortiz broke the Bobcats' best single season home run record set previously by Ariel Ortiz.
In five innings, Coleman added another single-season school record to her collection, and claimed a single-season RBI record when the Bobcats expanded their lead with two more home runs to left center field. That record was previously returned by Elizabeth Whissel during the 2001 season.
Texas extended the lead as a slow error as Warhawks starting pitcher Victoria Abrams dropped the base and scored three runs and loaded what gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
Azua kept most of the game in the bays before the seventh innings. The Warhawks did not descend without any fight, earning three runes in the final frame against Azua. She was replaced by Analis Sasoliz after giving up three straight singles to start the innings.
The Warhawks threatened the 7-4 game with two outs, earning three runs. In the end, the Solis got out of the jam and gave the Bobcats not only a series victory but also a share of Sunbelt's regular season title.
But Texas not only wanted to share the title, but also had a good opportunity to win the second game of the doubleheader and get the whole cake.
Game 2
The final regular season game has finally arrived. Texas quickly jumped at the opportunity as Megan Koelner helped the Bobcats get an early 1-0 lead at the top of the first innings with an RBI single coming in left.
Kellner helped add to that lead at the third top by forcing a baseloaded walk, giving Texas a 2-0 lead. At the top of the sixth, the Bobcats extended their lead to 3-0 as Camrimbas scored on Fielder's selection.
Throughout the game, the Warhawks have tried several times to fight back with heavy presences on the base pass. Starting pitcher Emma Stold cut off the Bobcats' lead at a two-run home run by designated batsman Leila Thompson to the left, keeping Ulm away from home for the most part until it was 3-2.
Ciara Trahan scored in the final regular season game with a key insurance on the right with a two-run RBI triple before finally doubled the lead to 6-2.
Strood continued pitching in seven innings, and the Bobcats only needed three more outs to complete the sweep. Despite being a bunt single to open up the innings, the Bobcats were able to change their impressive double play. On a 1-2 pitch to Mea Brown, Strood attacked her with swings and misses, giving Texas the Sun Belt's regular season title perfectly.
Strood took his 12th victory of the season after throwing a full game against The Warhawks, giving up seven hits, but only allowed two runs from home runs. She hit four people in the process, bringing the season to 2.82.
What's next?
The Bobcats came to Monroe, Louisiana, hoping to win a conference title against a team that was undefeated at home all year round. Not only did they win, they ruined the Warhawks' unbeaten streak at home, pushing them from the top of the meeting to fourth, winning dominantly.
This is the second program history of the Bobcats to win this regular season title since their first victory in 2018 seven years ago.
With the conference rankings completed and the conference tournament set, the Bobcats were top of the tournament's top seed overall seed. Texas is scheduled to play the James Madison Troy winner at the Troy Softball Complex at 4pm on May 8th. A single elimination tournament will be held there over three days from May 7th to May 10th.
If Texas pushes to the conference championship game, the matchup will air nationwide on ESPN2 on May 10th at 1:30pm.
