SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The ULM softball team (31-24) fell in the Sun Belt Conference Quarterfinals to South Alabama (32-17-1) in extra innings after South Alabama's left fielder Bailey Welch lifted the game-winning home run in the 12th inning.

"We brought everything we had," said ULM head coach Molly Fichtner. "We played them [South Alabama] for a total of 38 or 39 innings this year. Hats off to Olivia Lackie. She is an incredible pitcher, and I hope they go really far."

The pitcher's duel featured Lackie pitching a 12-inning complete game and holding the Warhawks to one run on six hits and tallied seven strikeouts. ULM kept the Jaguars' bats in check with Maddie Nichols surrendering just one run in 6.2 innings of work with a trio of strikeouts. Gianni Hulett kept the game tied through the 12th inning with 4.1 innings pitched and allowed three hits on one strikeout.

After a scoreless first inning that saw hits by ULM's Meagan Brown and USA's Gabby Stagner, South Alabama started the bottom of the second with a leadoff single. Elle Carter and Andie Edwards helped turn a 6-4-3 double play and Nichols struck out her first batter to end the inning. Nichols worked around traffic in the bottom of the third with two Jags reaching base and recorded a pair of fly outs to end the inning.

Brown singled again in her second plate appearance to start the fourth inning and stole second base. Brooklin Lippert moved Brown to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a popout, Carys Platt walked to put runners at the corners. On the first pitch of the next at bat, Platt was called out for leaving first base early to end ULM's scoring chance. Nichols sat the Jags down in order in the fourth inning.

With one out in the fifth, Maryssa Zenzen doubled to right center and Taylor Broddick pinch ran. Jacelyn Buck delivered a clutch, two-out double to center field that allowed Broddick to score and give ULM the lead. Nichols worked around a leadoff walk in the fifth when Lippert cut down the potential game-tying run at the plate on an outfield assist from center field to end the bottom of the fifth with the Warhawks in front, 1-0.

Brown again singled for the third time to start the sixth and a Lippert sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position. The Jags recorded a key fielder's choice by tagging out Brown at third base for the second out of the sixth and Lackie kept ULM off the scoreboard in the sixth. South Alabama broke through in the bottom half of the inning when Marley Sims scored on a fielder's choice with a close play at the plate. Following a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Gianni Hulett entered the game and struck out the last batter of the seventh with a runner at first and sent the game into extra innings.

Platt singled to short with two outs in the ninth for ULM's first hit of extra innings. Both Hulett and Lackie pitched 1-2-3 innings in the 10th inning. South Alabama managed to advance a runner into scoring position with one out in the 11th. Hulett salvaged the final two outs of the inning and the game continued into the 12th inning. Lackie quieted ULM's bats in extra innings and allowed just one base runner in extras. On the first at bat of the 12th inning, Welch homered to advance the Jaguars to the semifinals.

"We had a great group of seniors this year," said Fichtner. "They did a great job of leading the team. Their resiliancy and competiveness mixed with the newbies was incredible to watch. We are going to feel the pain right now, but we are going to get back at it and get ready for next year."