LAFAYETTE, La. – The top-seeded Texas State softball team (42-14, 18-5 SBC) took down the second-seeded Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (38-14, 21-6 SBC) in the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship title game at Lamson Park on Saturday afternoon by a score 5-2.

For Texas State, the tournament victory clinches the program's first Sun Belt Championship title and fifth overall. The Bobcats have four Southland Conference Championship titles, the most recent coming in 2012. The win snaps Louisiana's streak of two consecutive tournament championships. The victory also ensures the Bobcats a trip to the 2018 NCAA Championship regional round with the SBC's automatic bid.

"This could not have happened to a better group," head coach Ricci Woodard said. "I am so proud of this group. It was a long road getting here. I guess you could say that the third time is a charm. The way the upperclassmen have led this team and put us in a position to get where we are today is special."

Louisiana trotted out starting pitcher Summer Ellyson to start the championship game, the same pitcher who no-hit the Bobcats in the semifinal game on Friday. The first three Bobcats successfully reached base, starting with a leadoff single from Brianna Sannem. Ariel Ortiz slid a bunt just inside of the charging third baseman. Hailey MacKay then laid down a bunt, and a miscommunication from the Cajuns led to an easy single for the sophomore. With the bases loaded, Tara Oltmann slapped a fielder's choice towards short, scoring Sannem from third. After a Bailee Carter fielder's choice, the Bobcats had runners on first and third with two outs. Carter took off for second, forcing Louisiana into a pickoff play. The play went awry when Ellyson threw the ball between the Cajun third basemen's legs, allowing MacKay to jog home for the game's second run.

The Cajuns evened the score in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run double from Casidy Chaumont. The bloop hit fell just in front of a diving Christiana McDowell in shallow centerfield. Kalyn Watts and Alaina Guarino raced around to score on the play.

Texas State converted the game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning. McDowell and Sannem both reached base on one-out infield singles to set the stage for Ortiz. The senior hit a sharp grounder to short. The ball was muffed by the defense, allowing McDowell to score from second base.

Bailee Carter doubled to lead off the sixth inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Cranek. Haleigh Davis added a pair of insurance runs for the Bobcats, blasting a two-run home run to deep left field to give Texas State a 5-2 advantage.

Senior pitcher Randi Rupp took to the circle for her fourth start in as many games. The 2018 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year spun a complete game, earning win No. 27 on the season. She yielded seven hits, two runs and one walk while striking out three Cajuns. The defense backed her up with a pair of double plays.

Texas State's Randi Rupp, Mari Cranek and Bailee Carter were named to the All-Sun Belt Tournament Team. Joining the Bobcat trio on the all-tournament team were: Sandra Mendoza (UTA), Peyton Glover (Troy), Talia Truitt (Troy), Summer Ellyson (Louisiana), Kelli Martinez (Louisiana) and Kara Gremillion (Louisiana). Haleigh Davis was named the Community Coffee Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Next up, Texas State awaits its NCAA Championship fate, which will be announced by the selection committee at 9 p.m. (CT) May 13 live on ESPN2. Texas State entered the weekend with the nation's 31st RPI and as the Sun Belt regular season champions. The Bobcats have earned at-large bids to the NCAA Championship in each of the last two seasons.

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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.