Bobcat Softball Sweeps South Alabama

By Eddie Lerma ­
Sports Reporter

Sophomore pitcher Randi Rupp finished her weekend with 27 strikeouts. Texas State swept the South Alabama Jaguars to improve to 30­-17 overall and 9-­9 in Sun Belt Conference play. Rupp out-dueled South Alabama pitcher Devin Brown, who ranks third in the nation in strikeouts, on Saturday afternoon.

In game one, Corrina Liscano used a 13-­pitch at bat to start the first for the Bobcats. A single by Kendall Wiley scored Liscano. Another single in the bottom of the sixth inning by Wiley scored Webb and Young which gave the Bobcats the first win of the three-­game series. Randi Rupp ended the first game with 12 strikeouts, the final score ended 3­-1.

In game two, Coach Ricci Woodard decided to start Randi Rupp again and that favored the Bobcats. Liscano walked and scored after a Jaelyn Young single. Pinch run by Kayleigh Norte at the bottom of the sixth enabled her to score after a field error by South Alabama. A single by senior Kelli Baker scored Wiley in the same inning. The Bobcats shut­-out the Jaguars with a final score of 3-­0.

In game three, the Bobcats finished the series with a 1-­0 victory to complete the sweep. South Alabama only had 4 hits on Sunday morning, but the Bobcat defense was too much for the Jaguars. The Bobcat defense worked well on Sunday as they completed two double plays, one in the fifth and another in the sixth inning. A double by junior Kimberlin Naivar scored Kendall Wiley for the only run of the game. Randi Rupp improved to 22-­9 and the Cats as a team continue their dominance to a 13­-5 record at home.

Bobcat Softball is currently fourth in the conference standings and have six conference games left before the Sun Belt Tournament in Mobile, Alabama. The Cats will face their last non-conference game when they host Texas A&M on the Bobcats Fight Cancer Pink game, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Featured image by Madison Tyson.