The Texas State softball team pulled out a close win against the San Diego State Toreros in what proved to be a historic afternoon for senior pitcher Randi Rupp.
In her seventh complete game of the season the star pitcher notched ten strikeouts, making her Texas State’s all-time leader in strikeouts with 1,024. Rupp entered the day just five strikeouts short of the previous record of 1,019 13 set years prior by Nicole Neuerburg.
Along with her newly attained strikeout record, Rupp ranks second all-time in career wins (86), complete games (82) and shutouts (34).
Getting off to a pedestrian start this season, Sunday afternoon’s win gives the Bobcats a 6-4 overall record with three of their four losses coming at home. The victory, along with two wins over North Dakota and one against Illinois State gave Texas State four out of five games in the Littlewood Classic.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm on offense, the first four innings being shutouts by both pitchers.
It was in the top of the fourth inning when the Bobcats scored the first run of the game. Unfazed by the pressure of two outs on her back, Brianna Sannem, freshman infielder, hit a double through the left side to get on base. Taking advantage of the situation, Haleigh Davis , sophomore catcher, followed up with a single up the middle, bringing Sannem home for the score.
Answering back in the bottom of the fifth, San Diego’s Katie Vretzos, freshman infielder, brought home Sara Stone, senior, for the game-tying run.
Texas State retook the lead after Tara Oltman, freshman infielder, hit a triple to right field, bringing Meagan King, freshman pinch-runner, home for what was the game-winning run.
The Bobcats return to the diamond for the FAU Strike Out Cancer tournament. Texas State is set to compete in five games, two against Columbia and single matchups against Dartmouth, Florida Atlantic and Tulsa. The first game of the tournament for the Bobcats is a matchup against Columbia Feb. 23 at 3:45 p.m.