SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team (35-10, 15-2 SBC) earned its fifth Sun Belt Conference sweep, defeating ULM (23-21, 9-12 SBC) in a pair of games in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats squeaked out game one by a score of 1-0 before edging the Warhawks 4-3 in the series finale.

GAME 1
TEXAS STATE 1, ULM 0

Texas State was led by ace Randi Rupp in the first game of the day. The senior threw a complete-game shutout to earn win No. 22 on the season. Rupp allowed just one hit on the afternoon, a leadoff single in the top of the fourth inning, before retiring 12 of the final 13 Warhawk batters to close out the game. She sat down eight ULM hitters via strikeout. In total, Rupp threw 82 pitches in the win, including 54 strikes.

Offensively, the Bobcats collected eight hits and drew one walk, but left eight runners stranded on base. Haleigh Davis the offensive attack, securing a pair of hits and a sacrifice bunt in her three trips to the plate.

The lone Texas State run came in the bottom of the second inning. Ariel Ortiz led off the frame with a double off the wall in left center. After a sacrifice bunt from Tara Oltmann, Ortiz stood just 60 feet from home plate. Bailee Carter slapped a slow roller towards first base, the ULM defender fielded the ball cleanly and tried to catch Ortiz streaking into home from third, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Carter reached first on an RBI fielder's choice.

GAME 2
TEXAS STATE 4, ULM 3

In the second game of the day, the series finale, Mari Cranek jump started the offense with a double to left center field with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Hailey MacKay drew a four-pitch walk to give the Cats a pair of runners on base for Ortiz. The senior shortstop grounded out to first but was able to advance both runners into scoring position. Oltmann, the next batter to step to the plate, drove an RBI single into right field, scoring Cranek from third.

After tying the game in the top of the third inning, ULM threatened once again in the top of the fourth inning. The first two Warhawks to step to the plate in the inning reached base on singles. The second hit chased Bobcat starting pitcher Meagan King out of the game. She lasted 3.0 innings and struck out four batters.

McKenna Fryar was called into the game to limit the damage. The first batter she faced looped a single into right field. Jaclyn Molenaar fielded the ball cleanly, noticed the ULM batter being waved around third base, and fired the ball towards home. The throw and tag beat the runner, giving Molenaar an outfield assist and keeping the game knotted at 1-1. Unfortunately, the next Warhawk batter was walked to load the bases. Rochelle Roberts singled into center field, scoring a pair of runners to take ULM's first lead of the series.

The Bobcats did not stay down long. A pair of walks in the bottom of the fifth inning brought MacKay to the plate with runners on first and second and one out. MacKay ripped a three-run home run into left field, recapturing the lead for the Bobcats. For MacKay, she becomes just the 10th player in Bobcat softball history to hit at least 10 home runs in a single-season.

The 4-3 lead proved to be insurmountable for ULM. Rupp was inserted into the game in the top of the sixth inning and tasked with recording a five-out save. She struck out three of the eight batters she faced to preserve the Bobcat sweep.

Next up, Texas State and UTSA will meet in a midweek game on Tuesday evening. First pitch from Bobcat Softball Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Bobcats will hit the road over the weekend, facing Troy in a three-game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The series will represent the final conference road set of the 2018 season.

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

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.