SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team won its first conference series of the year Saturday afternoon with a 8-0 victory over UL Monroe at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Randi Rupp struck out 12 batters in the six inning game en route to her 16^th victory of the year. Texas State improves to 23-11 overall and 4-5 in Sun Belt Conference play.
 
Texas State wasted no time getting the offense rolling against the Warhawks in the bottom of the first inning. A triple to center by Kelli Baker ignited three Bobcat hits to score three runs in the first. Kimberlin Naivar drove in Baker for the first run of the day with a single through the right side.
 
With runners on first and second after Ariel Ortiz drew a five-pitch walk, Corrina Liscano doubled to left field to give Texas State a 3-0 lead.
 
Two more Bobcats came around to score in the bottom of the second inning. Bianca Prado was the one to get the offense moving in the second with a lead-off single to left. Another hit by Naivar, this time a double to left center, scored Prado to give the Bobcats a 4-0 lead.
 
Taylor Webb registered her seventh double of the season two batters later to score Naivar.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings, Texas State capitalized once again on the Warhawks. A pair of walks to Jaelyn Young and Sara Rupp in the bottom of the fifth put runners on first and second for the Bobcats. With two outs and runners on second and third after the help of a passed ball, Baker notched her second hit of the day to lift Texas State to a 7-0 advantage over ULM.
 
A lead-off single up the middle by Webb continued to push the Bobcat momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Warhawk pitching staff, after Webb's single, proceeded to walk the next three batters in order to end the game. Sara Rupp drew the game-winning walk after seeing 15 pitches by Melanie Coyne.
 
Baker, Naivar, and Webb all recorded two hits each for Texas State and for the day, the Bobcats sprayed 10 hits off of the Warhawk pitchers. The Bobcats also drew nine walks.
 
Rupp improves to 16-5 overall after putting in six innings of work for Texas State. With 12 strikeouts on the day, she has now struck out at least 10 batters in six games this year. Rupp allowed just two walks and two hits in the victory.
 
Texas State will now hit the road for five straight, beginning with a single game contest against Texas on March 30. First pitch up in Austin, Texas is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Bobcats won the first meeting against the Longhorns on March 2.
 
Live stats, live video, and live audio will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com and a live broadcast of the game will be aired on the Longhorn Network.