SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team (21-7, 4-0 SBC) won the opening two games of a three-game set with Coastal Carolina (14-13, 1-4 SBC) at Bobcat Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In game one, the Bobcats defeated the Chanticleers, 1-0, in an eight-inning pitcher's duel.  Game two displayed more offense, but Texas State still prevailed, 7-4. The pair of wins extends TXST's win streak to seven games.

GAME 1
TEXAS STATE 1, COASTAL CAROLINA 0 (8 INNINGS)

Senior pitcher Randi Rupp was dominant in game one, carrying a perfect game into the top of the sixth inning. Natalie Davis doubled to left center with one out in the sixth to spoil both the perfect game and no-hitter. Rupp would keep the shutout in place through eight innings of work. She baffled the Chanticleer bats all afternoon, striking out 13 batters while yielding just three hits and no walks. Rupp threw an efficient 110 pitches over eight innings.

Offensively, the Bobcats scattered five hits throughout the contest. Brianna Sannem registered a three-hit outing, going 3-for-4 at the dish and scoring the game's only run. Sannem led off the eighth inning with a double down the right field line. Off the bat, hit appeared to be a single, but the freshman sped around the first and slid in just before the tag could be applied.

Hailey MacKay, the next Bobcat batter, squared to bunt, laying a perfectly executed bunt towards first base. The CCU fielder was unable to make a play before MacKay reached first. Sannem advanced to third. Ariel Ortiz was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs for the home team. Tara Oltmann stepped to the plate and drew a nine-pitch walk, plating Sannem for the walk-off victory.

GAME 2
TEXAS STATE 7, COASTAL CAROLINA 4

Coastal started game two with a bang, smashing home runs in back-to-back at-bats in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff walk, Courtney Dean drilled a two-run shot over the wall in right center field. Two pitches later, Kassidy Smith launched a solo homer to left field. CCU led 3-0 before the Bobcats recorded an out.

The Cats started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the first. Christiana McDowell and MacKay both hit sharp ground balls to reach on infield singles. Oltmann drew a walked two batters later to load the bases for Bailee Carter. As was the case in the first game, Texas State's first run of the game came via a bases-loaded walk. In the second, the Bobcats scored when Jaclyn Molenaar sprinted home on a steal attempt from McDowell, who was trapped in a rundown situation.

MacKay started the bottom of the third with a single to short and advanced to second base on a walk from Ortiz. Oltmann reached first on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Haleigh Davis stepped into the box with runners on second and third and two outs in the inning. The sophomore delivered a single to center field, scoring MacKay from third. Davis advanced to second on the throw. Jaelyn Young was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many games, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Kourtney Pock. She roped a double to right center field to score Davis and Oltmann. Sannem, the next batter up, laced a double to left center to clear the bases and give the Bobcats a 7-3 lead.

Despite the early struggles, McKenna Fryar settled into the game, pitching six innings. The freshman earned the victory, her fourth of the season. She gave up four runs on six hits while striking out one batter. In the seventh, the Cats called on Rupp to close the game. She spun 13 pitchers, faced four batters without allowing a run, securing Texas State's second win of the day.

Next up, Texas State will look for the series sweep of Coastal Carolina at noon on Sunday.

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