SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team wrapped up the home weekend with a sweep of second place South Alabama Sunday. The Bobcats, with a run in the bottom of the third, defeated the Jaguars by a score of 1-0 for its second straight shutout of South Alabama. The victory also secured the 'Cats 30^th win of the year as Texas State improves to 30-17 overall and 9-9 in Sun Belt Conference play.
 
Quincy Charleston earned the start for Texas State, but was relieved in the top of the second inning after the Jaguars started registering hits and loading the bases. Randi Rupp came in relief for Charleston and got out of the jam by striking out the next three batters.
 
Rupp went on to pitch 6.0 innings for Texas State while allowing just one more hit and finishing with six strikeouts. The Bobcats scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a hit by pitch by Kendall Wiley and a double by Kimberlin Naivar.
 
The Bobcats ended the day with just two hits, but the combination of Rupp in the circle and the Bobcat defense held South Alabama scoreless and helped lift Texas State to the series sweep.
 
WHO STOOD OUT
Randi Rupp / P / Sophomore / Mont Belvieu, Texas
Rupp came in relief in the top of the second inning for Quincy Charleston. With the bases loaded and no one out, Rupp struck out the next three batters to get Texas State out of the jam. She finished the afternoon with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched as well as her 22^nd victory of the season. In her six innings of work Sunday, Rupp only allowed one hit.  
 
Kimberlin Naivar / LF / Junior / Mont Belvieu, Texas
Naivar hit the double in the bottom of the third inning that scored Kendall Wiley to give the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage. Naivar finished the day going 1-for-1 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. She also finished with two put outs and one assist.
 
Texas State Defense
The Texas State defense finished Sunday with two double plays and it finished the weekend with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. The first double play of the game was with one out in the top of the fifth. A fly ball to Naivar was caught and on the pitch, the runner from first was going. After the catch, Naivar threw a bullet to Wiley at first to get the runner who was trying to get back to first. The second double play of the game was in the top of the sixth inning after a strikeout. Sara Rupp rocketed a ball down to Wiley at first to get the lead runner who had distanced herself too much from first base. The Bobcats have improved their defensive percentage to .974.
 
SCORING

• Bottom 3^rd – Kendall Wiley led the inning off by getting hit on the first pitch of the at bat. Bianca Prado advanced Wiley to second on a sacrifice bunt before Kimberlin Naivar hit a double over the head of the right fielder to score Wiley. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base)

 
NOTES

• The series sweep against South Alabama is the first time this season Texas State earned the sweep in a conference series. Texas State has now improved to 9-9 in conference play.
• Texas State is now 5-1 all-time against South Alabama and this is the first time in school history the Bobcats have swept the Jaguars.
• Randi Rupp finished her phenomenal weekend with 20.0 innings pitched, 27 strikeouts, just seven hits allowed, and a 0.35 ERA. She improved to 22-9 on the year and is just two wins shy of matching her total from her freshman campaign.

 
NEXT UP
Texas State will remain at home and welcome Texas A&M this Wednesday for the Bobcats annual Pink Game. First pitch against the Aggies is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.