Softball | 5/9/2017 7:00:00 PM

TROY, Ala. – Texas State's Randi Rupp has been named the 2017 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honoree. In addition, shortstop Ariel Ortiz has earned first team all-conference honors, it was announced Tuesday evening by the Sun Belt office at the annual pre-championship banquet.

The Pitcher of the Year honor is the first in Rupp's career, while the first team selection is her third in as many seasons. Ortiz, also a junior, picked up her second career first team recognition after also being named to the squad as a freshman in 2015.

Louisiana's DJ Sanders was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year, while Ragin' Cajun Alyssa Denham was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Georgia State's Kinsley Jennings was selected at the Newcomer of the Year.

Rupp, who was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year entering the season, boasts a 1.08 ERA, including a 0.95 ERA in conference games, while posting 297 strikeouts in her 226.1 innings in the circle. In addition to posting the league's top ERA and most strikeouts, Rupp led the conference in batters struck out looking (83), innings pitched (226.1), wins (25) and games started (34). Her 297 strikeouts rank fifth in the NCAA, while both her 25 wins and 10 shutouts rank seventh.

This season Rupp, who has earned a league-best four Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week nods along with a NCFA Pitcher of the Week and ESPNW National Player of the Week honor, has eclipsed the 700, 800, and 900 career strikeout milestones. She became just the second Bobcat in program history with 900-plus strikeouts on April 30 as part of a career-high 15-strikeout, one-hit performance against Troy. The Mont Belvieu, Texas, native's season has also featured 10 double-digit strikeout performances and two separate 25.0-plus shutout innings streaks.

Ortiz has proven to be the Bobcats' top hitter this year as she leads the team in nearly every statistical category. She is hitting .367 with 15 home runs, 15 doubles and 47 RBI in her 158 plate appearances. The Waxahachie, Texas, native ranks among the Sun Belt's top-10 in batting average (.367), doubles (15), total bases (122), slugging percentage (.772), hits (58), RBI (47) and home runs (15).

Her power at the plate has made her the Texas State's all-time home run leader with 33 after belting 12 as a freshman, six as a sophomore and a TXST single-season record 15 this year. She broke the TXST career homer record with an inside-the-parker at South Alabama on April 8. She then set the single-season mark with her 14th and 15th of the year in April 29 doubleheader against Troy.

Ortiz, who was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week on March 14, ranks 19th in the NCAA with 122 total bases, while her 15 dingers rank 25th and her .772 slugging percentage ranks 33rd.

Rupp, Ortiz and the Bobcats have earned the No. 2 seed in this week's Sun Belt Championship after posting an 18-8 league record. Texas State plays its first game of the championship Thursday (May 11) at 12:30 p.m. against a to-be-determined opponent live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN platform.

2017 ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE
 
First Team All-Sun Belt
Devin Brown (South Alabama, Junior, P, Graphic Design)
Alyssa Denham (Louisiana, Freshman, P, Kinesiology)
Randi Rupp (Texas State, Junior, P, Management)
Alex Stewart (Louisiana, Senior, P, Mathematics/Finance)
Ivie Drake (Georgia State, Junior, C, Early Childhood Education)
Haley Hayden (Louisiana, Senior, 1B, Exercise Science)
Kaleigh Todd (South Alabama, Junior, 2B, Education)
Becca Hartley (Troy, Senior, SS, Accounting)
Ariel Ortiz (Texas State, Junior, SS, Management)
DJ Sanders (Louisiana, Junior, SS, Exercise Science)
Kara Gremillion (Louisiana, Sophomore, 3B, Exercise Science)
Aleah Craighton (Louisiana, Junior, OF, Biology/Pre-Med)
Taty Forbes (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore, OF)
Megan Litumbe (Georgia State, RS Junior, OF, Human Learning and Development)
Emily Snider (Georgia Southern, Senior, OF, Accounting)
 
Second Team All-Sun Belt
Sam Clakley (UTA, Sophomore, P, Kinesiology)
Kinsley Jennings (Georgia State, Junior, P)
Dixie Raley (Georgia Southern, Sophomore, P, Public Relations)
Destin Vicknair (South Alabama, Senior, P, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Lexie Comeaux (Louisiana, Sophomore, C, General Studies)
Aileen Garcia (UTA, Freshman, 1B, Mechanical Engineering)
Sandra Mendoza (UTA, Junior, 2B, Kinesiology)
Kassidy Zeringue (Louisiana, Senior, 2B, Exercise Science)
Kristian Foster (South Alabama, Junior, SS, Exercise Science)
Kensey Caldwell (Georgia State, Senior, 3B, Human Learning and Development)
Morgan Brown (Georgia State, Senior, OF, Marketing)
Mekhia Freeman (Georgia Southern, Freshman, OF, Human Resource Management)
Sydney McKay (ULM, Sophomore, OF, Accounting)
Amanda Minahan (South Alabama, Senior, OF, Exercise Science)
Krista Rude (UTA, Sophomore, OF, Education)
 
Player of the Year
DJ Sanders (Louisiana, Junior, SS, Exercise Science)
 
Pitcher of the Year
Randi Rupp (Texas State, Junior, Management)
 
Freshman of the Year
Alyssa Denham (Louisiana, P, Kinesiology)
 
Newcomer of the Year
Kinsley Jennings (Georgia State, Junior, P)
 
Coach of the Year
Michael Lotief, Louisiana
 
 
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