COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas State scored in the top of the first, but Texas A&M, which entered the contest ranked as high as fifth in the nation by ESPN.com/USA Softball, scored three in the fourth and two in the fifth on its way to a 5-1 win Wednesday evening.
 
Texas State (24-6) sent seven to the plate in the first inning, but Texas A&M's Samantha Show responded to face the minimum over the final six innings in limiting the Bobcats to a single hit.
 
Show finished earned the win for the Aggies (29-3) to improve to 11-2 on the season, while Randi Rupp suffered just her third loss of the season in dropping to 15-3. Show struck out three in her 7.0 innings and Rupp fanned four in her 4.1 innings of work.
 
Texas State scored in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead after loading the bases with two outs. Kimberlin Naivar led off the game with an eight-pitch walk, and after a fielder's choice allowed Christiana McDowell to reach, Ariel Ortiz singled down the right-field line. Taylor Webb then walked to load the bases and bring Corrina Liscano to the plate. Liscano fell behind 0-2, but came back to work the count full before hitting a sharp ground ball to third that was misplayed by the Aggie fielder, allowing McDowell to score.
 
Rupp sat down the first nine Aggies she faced, including four on strikes to keep the Bobcats in front 1-0 after three complete, while Texas A&M's Show settled and began her string of facing the minimum. 
 
The Aggies scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take move in front of the Bobcats 3-1. With one out Kaitlyn Alderink reached and took second on a Bobcat throwing error and was doubled home two pitches later off the bat Riley Sartain. Kristen Cuyos then singled to left, driving home Sartain. Two batters later Cuyos came home to score after a Sarah Hudek double and an obstruction call against the Bobcats, pushing the Aggies ahead by two runs.
 
Tori Valdes made it 5-1 in the Aggies favor with her two-run homer to left in the home half of the fifth, effectively ending Rupp's night.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State hosts Sun Belt foe Georgia State for a three-game series starting Saturday, April 1. The Bobcats and Panthers are scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (CT) and 3:00 p.m. (CT) doubleheader on Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon (CT).
 
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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