TEMPE, Ariz. – The Texas State softball team (4-3) earned a pair of victories on day one of the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Softball Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. In game one, the Bobcats took down Illinois State (1-5) in a pitcher's duel, 2-1. TXST dismantled North Dakota (3-3) in game two of the day, 11-2, in six innings of play.

Ariel Ortiz was dynamic at the plate, going 4-for-6. Ortiz swatted a pair of home runs and a double while knocking in five runs in the two contests. Hailey MacKay was also 4-of-6 at the dish, collecting two hits in each game.

"Today was a big day for us," head coach Ricci Woodard said. "We had some really strong at bats in game one to back up Randi's performance. For her to garner 1000 strikeouts is a testament to her work ethic and dedication to her craft. Game 2, we attacked early and were able to see the power our offense can provide. We have to regroup and go back to work tomorrow."

GAME 1
TEXAS STATE 2, ILLINOIS STATE 1

The Bobcats drew first blood against the Redbirds, getting on the board in the bottom of the second via a solo home run from freshman ArieAnn Bell. The opposite field blast was the first of her collegiate career.

After Illinois State evened the score in the top of the sixth, the offense came alive. MacKay singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth before being lifted for a pinch runner, Jaclyn Molenaar. Ortiz laid down a bunt, hustled down the line and beat the throw. Molenaar advanced to second on the play, giving the Bobcats runners on first and second with no outs. Both batters would advance a base following a wild pitch by the Redbirds. Tara Oltmann looped a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Molenaar.

The additional run was all Randi Rupp needed. The senior was electric in the circle all afternoon and kept the Illinois State batters off balance. Rupp pitched all seven innings, throwing 106 pitches and striking out 13 batters. She was perfect through three innings before yielding a lead-off walk in the top of the fourth. Her no-hitter and shutout were still intact until the Redbirds cracked a solo home run to knot the game at one in the sixth inning.

Rupp reached 1,000 career strike outs following her ninth punch out of the contest. She joins Nicole Neuerburg (2001-04) as the only Bobcat pitchers to accumulate at least 1,000 strike outs in their Texas State careers. Neuerburg holds the Bobcat record with 1,019 k's during her four year run in the maroon and gold.

GAME2
TEXAS STATE 11, NORTH DAKOTA 2 (6 Innings)

Texas State jumped out to an early lead once again, striking in the first inning of the second game. Molenaar notched the game's first hit, a single up the middle. MacKay immediately followed with a sharply hit double to right field, advancing Molenaar to third. Ortiz stepped up with two on and one away. She roped a double to right center, scoring both Molenaar and MacKay. Two batters later, Haleigh Davis scored Ortiz on a field hit to second.

The bats fell quiet for the next three innings before waking back up in the fifth frame. Molenaar led off the inning with a single, her second hit of the game. Two batters later, Ortiz went deep, sending the ball well over the fence in center field and plating Molenaar. Davis stepped to the plate two batters later and drove the first pitch she saw over the left-center wall, giving the Bobcats a 6-0 lead.

In the home half of the frame, the Fighting Hawks found the scoreboard, scoring on a two-run shot off of the bat of Angel Love.

Once again, the Bobcat offense posted a crooked number on the score board, registering a five-run sixth inning. Brianna Sannem started the sixth with a pinch-hit bunt single and was replaced by Christiana McDowell on the base paths. Molenaar laid down a bunt, making it all the way to third by way of a throwing error from the third baseman. McDowell scored on the play. MacKay smashed a home run to right field, scoring Molenaar. Two pitches later, Ortiz drilled a solo shot to right field, her second homer and fifth RBI of the game.

The final run of the game came on an RBI single off of the bat of Tara Oltmann. The freshman chased ArieAnn Bell home after she doubled to follow Ortiz's solo blast.

In the circle, coach Woodard turned to Meagan King to start the game. She lasted just 1.2 innings in the game before giving way to Krista Jacobs with two on and two outs in the bottom of the second. Jacobs threw one pitch in the second frame, getting a groundout to end the UND scoring threat.

Jacobs stayed in to pitch the remaining 4.1 innings of the game, allowing two runs on six hits. She struck out two batters and threw 41-of-57 pitches for strikes. Jacobs was credited with the win, her first career win as a member of the Texas State pitching staff.

The Bobcats will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against North Dakota. First pitch is slated for 3:15 p.m. Game two for TXST will be against Arizona State, the host of the Littlewood Classic, at 8:15 p.m.

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