Although the Rio Rancho High School softball team was unable to win its first state championship since 2003 in Farmington this month, the Rams (17-12) at least have the satisfaction of being the only team able to defeat two-time state champion Cibola this season.

The No. 1 Cougars (30-1) rolled through the bracket, with shutouts in their first three games — over Albuquerque High, Mayfield and La Cueva — and then beat second-seeded Carlsbad 6-1, sending the Cavewomen into the losers’ bracket.

There, Carlsbad defeated Las Cruces, setting up another meeting with the Cougars, where a Carlsbad victory would mean an “if” game. There were no “ifs” about the Coogs, though, as they clobbered the Cavewomen 10-3 for their second blue trophy.

The sixth-seeded Rams, who handed the Cougars their only loss and ended what had been a 33-game winning streak on May 1, split their four games in Farmington.

Rams 6, Hobbs 2: Pitcher Stacy Caldwell led the Rams’ 12-hit attack in their first-round game against the 11th-seeded Eagles with three singles, while Julie Santillanes, Stephanie Dunham, Shannon Garcia and Shelby Pendley had two hits apiece. Garcia and Pendley each socked a home run.

Caldwell scattered four hits, including a homer, and the Rams played errorless ball.

Rams 8, Eldorado 2: Shelby Ripple went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs as the Rams defeated another team of Eagles.

Pendley stayed hot, swatting four hits in five at-bats and scoring three times, while Celina Johns was 2 for 2.

Santillanes stole three bases, while Christen Miller and Pendley swiped two bases and Johns also had a stolen base.

The damage could have been worse: The Rams left nine runners on the base paths.

Carlsbad 4, Rams 3: For the third game in a row, the Rams scored in their first at-bats and even out-hit Carlsbad 14-9.

The Rams, who survived one error in their win over Eldorado, committed a ghastly five errors in this loss, which sent them into the losers’ bracket, where they would ultimately need to win three more games to get into championship consideration.

Ripple led her team’s nine-hit attack with three hits, including a homer, and drove in three runs.

Santillanes and Pendley, who had two RBIs, added two hits apiece.

Oñate 7, Rams 3: Out-hit 14-7 and still managing to score in their first at-bats for the fourth game in a row in Farmington, the Rams were no match for the Knights, who saw Pendley lead the game off with a home run and later sock a two-run shot.

Pendley again paced her team’s even-hit attack by going 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Johns was 2 for 2 in the loss.

The Rams, committing only one error, again were hurt by the failure to drive in runs n Rio Rancho left the bases loaded in the sixth inning and stranded two more in the seventh.