AUSTIN — The Sundown softball team fell 5-2 to Shiner in the Class 2A Division II state championship Thursday at McCombs Field to deny the Roughettes a repeat.
The Comanches broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the fifth inning. Lauren Springfield, the title game MVP, hit a go-ahead two-run single, and two batters later Kloe Polasek tacked on a run with a sacrifice fly.
Springfield allowed one earned run and seven hits in a complete game. She tallied five strikeouts with no walks. Sundown finished with one extra-base hit.
Shiner (32-7) avenged a 9-3 loss in the 2025 championship. It is the program’s record-extending eighth title.
Sundown vs Shiner UIL state softball championship live updates
2:56 p.m. — Shiner defeats Sundown 5-2 in the Class 2A Division II state championship.
2:44 p.m. — Sundown goes down after one hit and trails Shiner 5-2 entering the bottom sixth.
2:40 p.m. — Shiner takes its first lead, 5-2, after a three-run inning. Comanches pounded five hits and also benefited from an error.
2:30 p.m. — Shiner is coming to bat in bottom fifth with the game tied 2-2.
2:22 p.m. — Sundown and Shiner are tied 2-2 through four innings.
2:10 p.m. — Shiner ties the game at 2 after scoring two in the bottom third. The Comanches tallied three hits in the frame but will lament picking up an out on the base paths trying to get a runner to third.
2:01 p.m. — Sundown leads 2-0 entering the bottom third. Roughettes tacked on a run on Breigh Gregory’s single but left the bases loaded.
1:50 p.m. — Sundown leads 1-0 after two innings. Shiner stranded a runner at second.
1:40 p.m. — Sundown leads 1-0 through one inning. Shiner left runners on first and second base after Nayleen Morin snared a line drive for the final out.
1:28 p.m. — Sundown takes a 1-0 lead after half an inning. A pair of hard-hit balls produced the run — a double by Breigh Gregory and a grounder by Brynly Gregory that turned into an E4.
12:50 p.m. — Starting lineups are set. It’s the same pitching matchup as last year: Destiny Garza (Sundown) vs. Lauren Springfield (Shiner).
12:33 p.m. — Sundown and Shiner will begin at 1:20 p.m. after the opening game of the day went a bit long.
Sundown starting lineup
1. Emry Jourden, SS
2. Breigh Gregory, 3B
3. Brynly Gregory, C
4. Destiny Garza, P
5. Nayleen Morin, 2B
6. Camry Jourden, CF
7. Araceli Ibarra, 1B
8. Miranda Posadas, DP / Avy McGlasson, LF
9. Jaelyn Dominguez, RF
Shiner starting lineup
1. Hailey Radicke, CF
2. Riley Fluitt, LF
3. Addy Siegel, SS
4. Lauren Springfield, P
5. Reagan Fluitt, 3B
6. Kloe Polasek, DP / Kara Kupka, RF
7. Kalli Kupka, C
8. Taylor Kocian, 2B
9. Cami Cowan, 1B
Sundown 2026 playoffs
Bi-district: Sudan (27-1, 10-5)
Area: Gruver (21-0, 15-0)
Region semifinals: Haskell (7-4, 3-2)
Region final: Big Lake Reagan County (17-0)
State semifinals: Muenster (5-6, 12-7, 6-1)
Shiner 2026 playoffs
Bi-district: Agua Dulce (11-0, 17-0)
Area: Falls City (20-1, 15-1)
Region semifinals: Mumford (9-5, 1-0)
Region final: Burton (8-2, 13-5)
State semifinals: Como-Pickton (13-1, 2-4, 17-3)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Shiner softball denies Sundown second-straight state championship
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
