MONROE, La. –  Randi Rupp struck out 11 and the Texas State lineup scored just enough runs as the Bobcats downed ULM 2-1 on Sunday.
 
The win clinched the 2-1 three-game series win against the Warhawks, improved the Bobcats to 24-5 overall and 7-1 in Sun Belt play. ULM falls to 19-12 (4-5 Sun Belt).
 
Rupp registered her 10th complete game of the season and moved her record to 15-2. She finished with 11 strikeouts, marking her sixth game of the season with at least double-digit strikeouts. The junior allowed only four Warhawk hits and walked one.
 
Kimberlin Naivar and Jaelyn Young each went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Bobcat hitters. Naivar doubled and singled, while Young roped two doubles. Both scored a run.  
 
Texas State scored in the top of the first for the early 1-0 lead. Naivar led off the frame with a double to the fence in left-center. She took third on a passed ball and came home on a sacrifice fly out to left off the bat of Christiana McDowell.
 
In the home half of the second back-to-back Warhawks reached base via a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively. However, Rupp induced a chopper back to herself that she turned into a force out at third before ending the inning by retiring pinch hitter Brie Wrobel with her fourth strikeout.
 
Texas State loaded the bases in the fourth, but were unable to find a base knock to score insurance runs. Young led off the frame with a double and pinch runner Jaclyn Molenaar moved to third on Taylor Webb's single to left. Three batters later Sara Rupp loaded the bases with a walk before ULM's Melanie Coyne got Bailee Carter to fly out left to end the Bobcat threat.
 
In the bottom of the fourth ULM advanced a runner to third with two outs, but Rupp stranded her 60 feet away with her fifth strikeout looking of the contest.
 
The Bobcats scored an insurance run in the sixth as Kennedy Cline doubled home Young, who had doubled two batters earlier.
 
The insurance run paid immediate dividends as the Warhawks plated a run in the sixth, cutting the Bobcat's' lead to 2-1. Coyne, who had reach on a single through the right side, came around to score on Naivar's error in left on a well-hit ball by Jessie Watts.
 
The Warhawks' Coyne (12-6) suffered the loss, giving up one run and three hits in her 4.0 innings.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State travels to College Station on Wed., March 29 for a nonconference game against No. 7/7 Texas A&M. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast the SEC Network .
 
BOBCATS GO4THEGOAL BY LACING UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER AWARENESS ON APRIL 5
Texas State softball and baseball will support the Go4theGoal organization by participating in Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer games on April 5. Both games will be played in San Marcos with softball hosting Texas (6 p.m.) and baseball UTRGV (6 p.m.). Both program will wear gold shoe laces in support of the initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear gold to the games and will have a chance to donate to Go4theGoal's mission of improving the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research and granting personal wishes. For more information, visit GO4THEGOAL.ORG.
 
FOLLOW THE BOBCATS
For all of the latest news and information on Bobcat softball, visit TXSTATEBOBCATS.com. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TXStateSoftball along on Twitter (@TXStateSoftball) and Instagram (@TXStateSoftball).
 
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