SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team (33-10, 13-2 SBC) handled ULM (23-19, 9-10 SBC) in game one of the weekend's three-game set on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats won by a score of 7-0.

After a weather delay caused the game to start 30 minutes late, the Bobcats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Mari Cranek, who batted in the second spot of head coach Ricci Woodard's lineup, laid down a bunt single down towards third base. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Cranek took off for second base, sliding head first into the bag just ahead of the throw. One batter later, Ariel Ortiz belted a two-run home run to deep left center. Ortiz has recorded five home runs this season.

In the bottom of the second inning, TXST blew the game wide open, scoring three more runs on three hits and a walk. Haleigh Davis bounced a single into right field with one away in the frame. Davis was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish in the game. Kennedy Cline secured her third hit in the last two games with a single through the left side of the infield. Both runners advanced on a walk from Jaclyn Molenaar. Cranek stepped into the batter's box with the bases loaded and two outs. The junior smoked a triple to deep center field, scoring all three runners on base.

Finally, the Bobcats tacked on a couple more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a one-out walk from Ortiz, Tara Oltmann put a charge into the first pitch she saw in the inning, sending the ball over the wall in center. For the freshman, she has hit three home runs this season, all to center field at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

In the circle, Randi Rupp controlled the game. She combined with freshman Meagan King to shut down the Warhawks, a team that averaged just shy of seven runs per contest heading into the series. Rupp threw a tidy six innings, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out five ULM batters. King recorded one perfect inning in relief, striking out one batter.

Next up, Texas State and ULM will link up for games two and three of the weekend series. Game two is slated for a noon start. Game three will begin approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.

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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.