TXST Softball To Host S. Alabama In Weekend Conference Series

by, Jen Lawson, TXST Assistant Sports Information Director

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team returns home for seven of the final 10 remaining games on the schedule, starting with a three game series this weekend against South Alabama. First pitch against the Jaguars in the Saturday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.

Series Info: Texas State vs. South Alabama

Site: Bobcat Softball Stadium – San Marcos, Texas
Dates: Saturday, April 23 – Sunday, April 24
Time: Saturday DH – 1 p.m. | Sunday – 11 a.m.

The Series

Texas State and South Alabama have competed in just one weekend series in program history and the Bobcats hold a 2-1 advantage. Last season, the Bobcats traveled to Mobile only to get turned away from games. The Mobile area suffered significant amounts of rain and the series was ultimately canceled. In 2014, the Jaguars traveled to San Marcos were the Bobcats dealt South Alabama a pair of losses to end the series.

A Look At The Competition – South Alabama

The South Alabama Jaguars enter the weekend with a 26-13 overall record and 14-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. The only losses in Sun Belt Conference play were two to then-No. 5 UL Lafayette and most recently Georgia Southern.

The Jaguars are currently on a two-game losing skid after dropping Wednesday’s game to No. 4 Alabama by a score of 4-2.

Emily Messer, a 2016 NPF draft selection, leads the team offensively with a batting average of .460 and 63 hits. She has registered eight doubles and a team-leading five triples this season. In addition to her hitting power, she has been successful 14 of the 17 times she had attempted to steal a base.

In addition to Messer, Kaleigh Todd is averaging .414 this season for the Jaguars. Todd is second on the team in hits with 53 and runs with 33 while leading the squad with 18 stolen bases this year. Messer and Todd are the two threats as they have stolen a combined 32 of the team’s 40 stolen bases this season.

Sophomore pitcher Devin Brown leads the Jaguars in the circle. She has pitched in 154.2 innings this season and leads the league with 245 strikeouts. With a 15-8 overall record, Brown owns a 1.58 ERA with 20 complete games and nine shutouts.

The South Alabama program was established in 2007 and head coach Becky Clark has been there since the beginning. In 2012 and 2013, the Jaguars won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title.

Bobcat Tidbits

The Texas State Bobcats will be at home for seven of the remaining 10 regular season contests this season. With a 27-17 overall record and 6-9 mark in conference play, Texas State owns a 10-5 record at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.

In addition to South Alabama, UT Arlington is the only other Sun Belt Conference foe to come to San Marcos. Texas State will take a trip to Appalachian State next weekend.

Taylor Webb, after having a breakout weekend against Troy last weekend, leads the Bobcats with a .306 batting average. Webb is second on the team with 23 RBIs and is tied for first on the squad with eight doubles. Senior second baseman Kelli Baker is the other Bobcat above the .300 mark and she leads the team with 42 hits.

Despite falling to No. 21 Baylor by a score of 3-0 last Wednesday, the Texas State pitching staff has a combined ERA of 2.10. All three runs against the Bears were unearned and therefore Randi Rupp lowered her season ERA to 1.74 and Quincy Charleston lowered hers to 1.67. Rupp ranks second in the SBC in strikeouts with 236 while allowing just 49 walks.

Rupp is coming off of a great week last week, a week that earned her SBC Pitcher of the Week honors. She finished last week with a 0.00 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched with 34 strikeouts.

Head coach Ricci Woodard is in her 16^th season at the helm of the Bobcat program. She has an overall record of 543-357-1 at Texas State.

Final Details

First pitch in the Saturday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.