Santa Rosa Junior College’s impressive postseason run in softball ended on the third day of the state championship tournament Saturday as the Bear Cubs lost to Saddleback College in an elimination game.

Falling 9-2 to the Bobcats for their second loss of the double-elimination tournament in Bakersfield, the Santa Rosa squad ultimately couldn’t find the come-from-behind magic they’ve often had this postseason.

After scoring twice in the first inning, the Bear Cubs were held scoreless for the next six frames. Their early success came on a two-run home run by Mia Avila, but the team totaled just three hits on the day.

Avila, who was Friday night’s hero in the circle during a 13-7 win over Cosumnes River that moved SRJC into the state final four, got the start again Saturday. She went 2 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on three hits.

Gia Hernandez threw 3 2/3 innings of relief for the Bear Cubs, striking out a pair while allowing two earned runs on seven hits.

The Bear Cubs end their season at 27-20 but catapulted from a fourth-place finish in the Big 8 conference into a remarkable postseason performance.

They knocked off higher-seeded teams in the first and second rounds of the Northern California playoffs to reach the state tournament, then overcame a 33-3 rout in Thursday’s opener by winning two elimination games on Friday.

They came within two wins of their first state title game appearance since 1982.