Rupp, Woodard Highlight SBC Postseason Awards

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference recognized several members of the Texas State softball program with postseason and all-conference honors on Tuesday afternoon.

Ricci Woodard was named 2018 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, her first honor since Texas State joined the Sun Belt Conference before the 2014 season. She earned four coach of the year accolades as a member of the Southland Conference, including 2001, 2002, 2008 and 2012. Woodard helped guide Texas State to a 2018 Sun Belt Conference regular season title, the first in program history.

"I know coach and she will defer the attention of this award," associate head coach Cat Osterman said. "But, I can speak for the entire team, there is no better person to be the captain of our ship. In five years, she has taken the program a step up every season. Winning the championship was a direct reflection of the work, passion and belief of Coach Woodard."

For the second consecutive season, Randi Rupp was named 2018 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year. She also garnered First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors for the fourth time in as many years. Rupp becomes the first player in program history to earn first-team honors in each of her four years at Texas State and the second pitcher in Sun Belt history to achieve this feat.

Rupp was lights out all season for the Bobcats, posting a record of 25-9 with an ERA of 1.10. The senior struck out 286 opposing batters in 235.1 innings of work while allowing 158 hits and issuing just 34 walks. Against the Sun Belt, Rupp pushed her game to the next level, registering an ERA of 0.55 (nine earned runs in 115.0 innings) and amassed a record of 13 wins to just three losses. She also garnered Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honors on five separate occasions this season.

"It is no secret that Randi has had an incredible season in the circle," head coach Ricci Woodard said. "Her entire career, she has worked to be the absolute best she can be, and winning a second Pitcher of the Year award is indicative of that drive and work ethic."

Ariel Ortiz earned first-team honors for the third time in her historic career. She also received first-team nods following her freshman and junior campaigns. Like Rupp, she becomes just the second shortstop in league history to achieve first team honors on three occasions. The shortstop has started every game of her Bobcat career, appearing on the lineup card in 226 consecutive games for Coach Woodard. This season, Ortiz hit .333 (41-of-147), collected nine doubles, a pair of triples and six home runs. She ended the regular season second on the team with 36 RBI. On the base paths, Ortiz swiped 11 bases in 2018, second most on the team. In Sun Belt games, Ortiz upped her average to .377 (26-of-69) and drove in 14 runs.

"Ariel followed up a strong junior year with an even better senior year," Woodard said. "To shoulder the leadership of a young team and continue to perform is never easy. Ariel's honor, like the others, is a result of many hours working to perfect her craft. She does not get outworked."

Hailey MacKay was named to the first team, giving Texas State three players on the all-conference first team for the first time since earning four bids in 2015. MacKay, a transfer from Arkansas, provided a consistent force in the heart of the Texas State lineup. The sophomore started every game for the Bobcats this season, 49 at first base and three at third base. MacKay led the team in 10 offensive categories, including: batting average (.364), hits (56), walks drawn (26) and home runs (11). She delivered 19 of her team-high 37 RBI in conference matchups.

"We were really excited to add Hailey to our roster last offseason, and now everyone else can understand why," Woodard said. "Hailey came in and made a statement in our lineup, which is not always easy to do. Her power and consistency are a reflection of the process she commits herself to."

Catcher Haleigh Davis was named to the second team by the Sun Belt Conference. Davis started 44 games for the Bobcats, 39 coming behind the plate. She boasts the third highest batting average on the team, hitting .328 on the season (41-of-125). Davis has driven in 12 runs, including five doubles and five home runs. Defensively, the sophomore was dynamic, cutting down 14-of-31 attempted steals. In 341 chances behind the dish, Davis made just five errors, posting a fielding percentage of .985.

"Haleigh built on a productive freshman year to make a name for herself," said Woodard. "Offensively she made great strides, but defensively she is a force. Her arm is an asset that cannot be overlooked."

The Bobcats clinched the 2018 Sun Belt regular season title on May 6, defeating UT Arlington by a score of 4-1. The team enters the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will have a double-bye, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. The Bobcats will play the winner of the UTA vs. Troy/ULM game on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La.

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.

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

All-Sun Belt First Team
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (So., P, Lafayette, La.)
Devin Brown, South Alabama (Sr., P, Mobile, Ala.)
Randi Rupp, Texas State (Sr., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Annie Willis, Troy (Fr., P, Huntsville, Ala.)
Ivie Drake, Georgia State (Sr., C/1B, Carlton, Ga.)
Reagan Wright, UTA (So., C, Mansfield, Texas)
Hailey MacKay, Texas State (So., 1B, Leander, Texas)
Kaleigh Todd, South Alabama (Sr., 2B, Bessemer, Ala.)
Kara Gremillion, Louisiana (Jr., 3B, Gonzales, La.)
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (So., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Ariel Ortiz, Texas State (Sr., SS, Waxahachie, Texas)
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina (Fr., OF, Indian Trail, N.C.)
Sydney McKay, ULM (Jr., OF, Pearland, Texas)
Laura Curry, UTA (Jr., OF, Temecula, Calif.)
Megan Litumbe, Georgia State (Sr., DP/OF, Grayson, Ga.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team
Randi Phillips, UTA (Fr., P, Jefferson, Texas)
Haleigh Davis, Texas State (So., C, Houston, Texas)
Kourtney Gremillion, Louisiana (Fr., 1B, Gonzales, La.)
Katie Webb, Troy (So., 1B, Salem, Ala.)
Sandra Mendoza, UTA (Sr., 2B, Eagle Pass, Texas)
Hannah Farrell, Georgia Southern (Jr., 3B, Jesup, Ga.)
Skylar Mosel, Georgia State (Fr., SS/OF, McDonough, Ga.)
Jayden Mount, ULM (So., SS, Glade Water, Texas)
Logan Calhoun, Troy (So., SS, Dublin, Ga.)
Mekhia Freeman, Georgia Southern (So., OF, Senoia, Ga.)
Hunter Hogan, ULM (Sr., OF, Colwich, Kansas)
Rochelle Roberts, ULM (Sr., OF, Vacaville, Calif.)
Haleigh Lowe, South Alabama (Sr., OF, Prattville, Ala.)
Jenny Dodd, Appalachian State (Jr., DP/C, Mocksville, N.C.)

Sun Belt Player of the Year
Ivie Drake, Georgia State (Sr., C/1B, Carlton, Ga.)

Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year
Randi Rupp, Texas State (Sr., P, Mont Belvieu, Texas)

Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
Annie Willis, Troy (Fr., P, Huntsville, Ala.)

Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (So., SS, Cypress, Texas)

Sun Belt Coach of the Year
Ricci Woodard, Texas State

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#9 Haleigh Davis: C/INF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#2 Ariel Ortiz: INF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#4 Randi Rupp: RHP; 5' 11"; Senior; R/R

#25 Hailey MacKay: INF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#9 Haleigh Davis
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/INF

#2 Ariel Ortiz
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#4 Randi Rupp
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Hailey MacKay
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF