Randi Rupp v CCU
Peter Vives

Softball

Rupp Named SBC Pitcher of the Week

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced Tuesday that Randi Rupp earned pitcher of the week accolades. Logan Harrell of Georgia Southern was named player of the week.

"This was a big week for Randi," head coach Ricci Woodard said. "She gave us a solid outing against Baylor, continuing to get big outs and control the game, which allowed us to come back. To follow that up with her two appearances against Coastal, shows she is locked in. When you end your week with a perfect game, that is a testament to your mentality and focus. Randi was incredibly sharp this week, and we are really excited for her."

Rupp's week started with a complete game victory over No. 12 Baylor in Waco, Texas. She allowed two early runs to cross but settled in to retire 27 of the final 29 batters she faced. The win gave Rupp two wins against Baylor in her career, both victories came over a top-15 Bear team.

For an encore, Rupp flirted with perfection in game one of a conference double-header against the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina. She carried a clean scorecard into the top of the sixth inning before allowing a one-out double. She kept the shutout in order through eight frames of three-hit softball. A walk-off walk in the bottom of the eighth allowed Rupp to secure her second win of the weekend. In the second game of the double-header, Rupp entered in relief in the top of the sixth, slamming the door on any chance of a comeback for Coastal. She earned her first save of the season in a 7-4 Bobcat victory.

In her final outing of the weekend, the senior threw her second career perfect game and just the fourth such game ever thrown by a Bobcat pitcher. Rupp faced 18 batters in the game, striking out 11 Chanticleers, including the first six she faced, while registering four fly outs and three ground outs.

Her first perfect game came in a 12-0 victory over Houston Baptist on April 15, 2015. Katie Garnett tossed a perfect game against UMKC in a 4-0 win on Feb. 16, 2008 and Nicole Neuerberg spun perfection in a 6-0 win over arch-rival UTSA on April 14, 2001. The game also marks Rupp's third career no-hitter, joining Chandler Hall, Anne Marie Taylor and Monica Rivas as the only Bobcat pitchers to throw at least three career no-hitters.

For the weekend, the Mount Belvieu, Texas native spun 22.0 innings, allowed 12 hits, two walks and a pair of runs while sitting down 28 batters via strikeout. She recorded a perfect 3-0 record and registered her first save of the 2018 season.

For Rupp, she has earned Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week 11 times in her illustrious career, including once earlier this season. She was named pitcher of the week following a terrific weekend in Boca Raton, Fla. in the FAU "Strike Out Cancer" Tournament.

Rupp, and the rest of the Bobcats, will be on the diamond Wednesday night for a matchup with in-state rival Texas with first pitch coming at 6 p.m. in Austin. The Bobcats will remain on the road for a weekend series with the Appalachian State Mountaineers starting with a double-header on Saturday afternoon.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sydney McKay, ULM – Feb. 13
Hailey MacKay, Texas State – Feb. 20
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina and Hunter Hogan, ULM – Feb. 28
Reagan Morgan, Georgia State – March 6
Ariel Ortiz, Texas State – March 13
Logan Harrell, GS – March 20

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kylee Jo Trahan, Louisiana – Feb. 13
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana – Feb. 20
Randi Rupp, Texas State – Feb. 28
Annie Willis, Troy – March 6
Devin Brown, South Alabama – March 13
Randi Rupp, Texas State – March 20

For all things Texas State softball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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Players Mentioned

Ariel Ortiz

#2 Ariel Ortiz

INF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Randi Rupp

#4 Randi Rupp

RHP
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Hailey MacKay

#25 Hailey MacKay

INF
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Ariel Ortiz

#2 Ariel Ortiz

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
INF
Randi Rupp

#4 Randi Rupp

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Hailey MacKay

#25 Hailey MacKay

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
INF