LAFAYETTE, La. – The Texas State softball team (31-9, 12-1 SBC) split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Louisiana (27-11, 13-4 SBC) at Lamson Park. The Bobcats took game one by a score of 4-0 in eight innings before falling 5-1 in the second game.

GAME 1
TEXAS STATE 4, LOUISIANA 0 (8 Innings)

For the first five innings, the Texas State offense was held in check. Summer Ellyson, Louisianan's starting pitcher, carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Kennedy Cline hit a pinch-hit to shortstop with two outs in the frame. She was stranded at first.

In the eighth inning, the Bobcats broke the game wide open. Sierra Steimel singled up the middle with one out in the inning and advanced to second on a bunt single down the third base line from Mari Cranek. With two outs, head coach Ricci Woodard turned to freshman Brianna Sannem as a pinch hitter. Sannem, who delivered the winning RBI against Texas in Texas State's midweek victory on Wednesday, roped a double into the gap in left-center to score Steimel from second. Hailey MacKay added a handful of insurance runs after she smashed a three-run home run to left field.

In the circle, Randi Rupp was dynamic. The senior pitched a complete game, going all eight innings. Rupp allowed nine hits and hit one batter while striking out seven Cajun batters. The right hander stranded 12 Louisiana batters on base, including a pair of innings in which she escaped a bases loaded jam. The win improves Rupp's season record to 19-6 and gives her two wins in her career against the Cajuns.

GAME 2
LOUISIANA 5, TEXAS STATE 1

In game two of the doubleheader, Coach Woodard turned to freshman pitcher Meagan King. The right hander struggled early in the first inning, giving up five hits and two runs in the frame. She settled in over the next four innings, allowing just two hits from the second inning until the fifth. King ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth when she allowed three hits to start the inning, including a two-run double from Kourtney Gremillion. The freshman lasted five innings, allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits while striking out three batters.

For the Bobcats, the lone run came in the second inning. Tara Oltmann snuck an opposite field double inside the left field line with one out in the top of the secon. ArieAnn Bell drew a walk to give the Bobcats runners on first and second. Steimel blooped a single into shallow center to score Oltmann from second.

Next up, Texas State will look to take the series finale with game three Louisiana coming at 11 a.m. on Monday back at Lamson Park in Louisiana, La.

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Senior pitcher Randi Rupp was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award on April 5, 2018. She was selected as one of 10 finalists who were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this month. Nationwide fan voting has begun to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 14. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipient for softball will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Women's College World Series® in Oklahoma City, May 31 through June 6.