TROY, Ala. – Second-seeded Texas State fell 12-0 to top-seeded and 14th-ranked Louisiana in the 2017 Sun Belt Championship game Saturday afternoon at the Trojan Softball Complex.
 
Louisiana (46-6) scored five runs in the first inning, taking advantage of two walks, a single to left and three Bobcat errors. Three of the first four Ragin' Cajuns batters reached to load the bases for Lexie Comeaux, who delivered with a RBI single to left. The run prompted a TXST move to the bullpen to bring in Randi Rupp in relief of starter Jodi Paige Williams.
 
Rupp took only two pitches to record the second out of the inning and only two more to induce a ground ball that should have ended the frame and limited the damage. However, a TXST fielding error allowed two runs to score. A third error a batter later permitted two more Ragin' Cajun runs for the 5-0 lead before the Bobcats got out of the inning.
 
Texas State (41-15) put runners in scoring position in both the first, third and fifth innings, but could not find the timely, run-producing hit.
 
The Ragin Cajuns plated six runs in the home half of the third to take an 11-0 lead. Louisiana scored its runs on three hits, three walks and a TXST error.
 
Louisiana added a final run in the fourth to provide the 12-0 final.
 
Alex Stewart earned the win to improve to 25-3 on the season. She pitched 4.0 scoreless before giving way to Alyssa Denham for the game's final three outs.
 
Williams suffered the loss after being charged with four runs (none earned) in her 1.1 innings of work. Rupp totaled 2.0 innings in the circle, allowing two earned runs. Quincy Charleston and Krista Jacobs each worked an out for the Bobcats.
 
THREE BOBCATS NAMED TO ALL-SUN BELT TOURNAMENT
Texas State's Randi Rupp, Sara Rupp and Christiana McDowell were named to the All-Sun Belt Tournament Team. Joining the Bobcat trio on the all-tournament team are UTA's Sam Clakley and Laura Curry, South Alabama's Devin Brown along with Louisiana's Aleah Craighton, Lexie Comeaux, DJ Sanders and Alex Stewart, who was also named the Community Coffee Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
 
NCAA REGIONAL SELECTION
Texas State, which entered the week with the nation's 29th RPI, now awaits it NCAA Championship fate, which will be announced by the selection committee at 9:00 p.m. (CT) on Sun., May 14 live on ESPN2. Should the Bobcats earn a NCAA Regional bid, fans should contact the host institution for ticket information.
 
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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