Softball Splits, Rupp Pitches Two-Hit Shutout

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team earned a split Saturday afternoon in day two of the 2015 CenturyLink Classic. Freshman pitcher Randi Rupp pitched a two-hit, complete game shutout to lead the Bobcats past Texas Tech in game one by a score of 2-0 before the Bobcats ultimately fell to I-35 rival UTSA in the night cap by a score of 6-3.
 

In game one, Rupp struck out seven batters while not allowing any walks. Freshman centerfielderBraegan Hamilton led the Bobcats with a pair of hits as well as a key defensive play in the first inning. Junior second baseman Kelli Baker also added two hits for the Bobcats with one RBI.
 

The Bobcats got off to a solid start in game one as Ariel Ortiz got on base with a lead-off double. After being moved to third by Baker, Ortiz scored on a sacrifice fly by Courtney Harris.
 

One of Hamilton’s hits came in the top of the seventh inning as she hit a lead-off triple to put the Bobcats in a prime opportunity to score. Just two batters later, Hamilton scored the second run of the game for Texas State on a single by Baker to right field.
 

Texas State then retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the 2-0 victory.
 

The squads went through two scoreless innings before the visiting Roadrunners tacked on two runs to take an early lead over Texas State.
 

That lead then increased to four in the top of the fifth after a single and a triple to start off the inning.
 

The Bobcats closed the gap in the bottom half of the fifth as Danielle Warne crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Ortiz. Warne was pinch running for freshman Isabelle Barnes who led the inning off with a single up the middle.
 

Texas State continued to rally in the bottom of the sixth as Kendall Wiley launched her first home run of the season to left center field to make it a 4-3 UTSA ballgame. UTSA then retired the next three batters to halt the Bobcats chances of tying up the ball game.
 

With two more runs added in the top of the seventh by the Roadrunners, the Bobcats found themselves in a three-run hole. Hamilton once again came through for the Bobcats as she singled through the left side to lead-off the inning. Ortiz then continued the Bobcat rally with a single to right field to put runners on first and second for Baker.
 

In Baker’s at bat, she launched a ball over the right field foul pole that ultimately was called foul. She then continued to battle off several pitches before succumbing to a pop fly to left field for the first out of the inning.
 

The inning then ended on a double play after Courtney Harris smoked a line drive to the pitcher.
 

Hamilton, Ortiz, and Wiley finished the game with a pair of hits each. Hamilton ended the day with four hits for Texas State. Taylor Webb was credited with the loss against UTSA after putting in seven innings of work in the circle.
 

Texas State will conclude the 2015 CenturyLink Classic tomorrow afternoon against Texas Tech at 12 p.m. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com. A live stream of the game will be broadcasted on 89.9 FM KTSW.