SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Randi Rupp pitched a three-hit complete game shutout and Taylor Webb supplied just enough offense with a solo home run as Texas State defeated New Mexico 1-0 in the opening game of the 2017 UTSA Classic.
 
Rupp finished with 10 strikeouts to pick up her fifth win of the season. She has struck out at least eight in five of her six appearances this season.
 
The win moves Texas State to 7-2 on the season, while New Mexico falls to 4-7.
 
Webb gave Rupp all the run support she would need in the second inning with her third home run of the year. With one out, Webb sent New Mexico's Tess McPherson's 1-0 offering over the center field fence. Corinna Liscano followed with a walk, but was stranded at second after advancing on a Haleigh Davis groundout.
 
Texas State threatened to double its lead in the top of the fifth as Liscano reached third base. The senior was hit by a pitch by to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a groundout and took third on a fly ball down the right-field line. However, she would be stranded 60 feet away as McPherson induced a Jaclyn Molenaar pop out to short left field to end the inning.  
 
UNM's Lauren Wilmert reached on a walk with one out in the fifth, but Rupp got pinch hitter Doris Smith to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning unscathed.
 
The Bobcats put runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth, but UNM's McPherson escaped any potential damage with an inning-ending strikeout.
 
New Mexico's Jasmine Casados led off the seventh with a single back to the Rupp, then took second on a throwing error. Five pitches later Michala Erickson lined out to TXST's Kimberlin Naivar in left, who promptly turned and doubled off Casados at second. Rupp then closed the door on the Lobos and the game with her 10th strikeout.  
 
New Mexico's McPherson (3-3) suffered the loss despite limiting the Bobcat offense to two hits.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State continues its time at the UTSA Classic on Saturday (Feb. 25) playing Incarnate Word at 12:30 p.m. and the host-Roadrunners at 5:30 p.m. The Bobcats' final game of the event is slated for Sunday (Feb. 26) at 10:00 a.m. against New Mexico.
 
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