LAFAYETTE, La. (JMU Athletics) – No. 3 seed Texas State softball rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a five-run bottom of the sixth to move past sixth-seeded James Madison, 5-2, in Thursday’s Quarterfinal of the 2026 Sun Belt Championship at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
JMU (27-24) finished with two runs on six hits, while Texas State (37-19) advanced to Friday’s semifinal on five runs and four hits. The Bobcats will play the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal between No. 2 Marshall and No. 10 seed Coastal Carolina.
Emma Jo Evans hit a solo home run and finished 1-for-2 to lead the Dukes at the plate, while Madison Edwards went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. Kendra Lewis reached base safely in all four plate appearances, finishing with a hit and three walks, and Bella Henzler went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Payton List lasted 5.1 innings in the circle, surrendering just one hit before allowing five in the bottom of the sixth. Emma Stroud got the win for Texas State, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.
How It Happened
Texas State 5, JMU 2
• The Dukes jumped out early when Evans launched a solo homer to center in the second inning, putting JMU ahead 1-0.
• The Dukes added to their lead in the fourth after Edwards ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Bella Henzler to put JMU ahead 2-0.
• Texas State rallied in the sixth inning, tying the game with back-to-back RBI before a three-run homer from K. Bubela gave the Bobcats a 5-2 lead they would not surrender.
• JMU stranded 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first inning.
— JMU Athletics —
