SAN MARCOS, Texas – Randi Rupp struck out 11 of 22 batters faced in her 5.2 innings of work and the Texas State lineup produced three runs as the Bobcats defeated I-35 rival UTSA 3-1 on Wednesday evening.
 
Texas State sweeps the season series against the Roadrunners 2-0 after also winning by an 8-1 margin at the UTSA Classic back on Feb. 25. The Bobcats are now 35-11 on the season, while UTSA falls to 19-29.
 
Rupp, who improved to 22-7 on the season, allowed only four UTSA baserunners on two hits, a walk and an error. Moreover, her 11 strikeouts marked her ninth double-digit strikeout game of the year. She is now at 253 strikeouts on the season and 881 for her career.
 
The Bobcat hitters collected four hits against the Roadrunners with Ariel Ortiz, Jaelyn Young, Haleigh Davis and Lexi Fryar recording base knocks. Taylor Webb, along with Young and Davis had the TXST RBI.
 
UTSA threatened in the top of the first as the Roadrunners' leadoff batter reached third with one out. However, Rupp came back to with two strikeouts to strand the runner. Texas State plated two in the bottom of the inning for the early 2-0 lead. Christiana McDowell led off with a walk and came around to score on Webb's sacrifice fly to right. Corrina Liscano, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored the Bobcats' second run on Young's sharply-hit grounder to first.
 
Rupp recorded eight of TXST's first nine outs via strikeouts, including sitting down the side on strikes in both the second and third, moving her season total to 250 in the process.
 
Ortiz reached on a walk and later scored on a Davis RBI single to third to make it 3-0 Bobcats through three complete.
 
After a scoreless fourth and fifth, Rupp was lifted with two outs in the sixth for Quincy Charleston out of the Bullpen. Charleston, the senior, pitched the final four outs to earn her first save of the season and third of her career.
 
UTSA scored its run in the seventh on a Bobcat error that allowed Taylor Oberg to come around from second.
 
The Roadrunners' Nicole Merrill (6-9) suffered the loss, allowing all three of the TXST runs (one earned).
 
UP NEXT
Texas State hosts Troy for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series starting Saturday, April 29. The Bobcats and Trojans are scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon. Following Sunday's game, the 2017 senior class will be honored for the achievement and contributions to Texas State softball.  
 
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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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