http://www.txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/...52016.aspx
Texas State Athletics
'Cats Are Going Dancing; Softball Earns Spot In NCAA Tournament
Texas State will take on Alabama, Cal, and Samford in Tuscaloosa Regional
Jen Lawson, Assistant Sports Information DirectorMay. 15, 2016 Softball
SAN MARCOS, Texas – After finishing with a 39-20 overall record and runner-up finish in the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Texas State softball team has earned a spot in the Tuscaloosa Regional beginning Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Bobcats will play Cal in its seventh NCAA Regional appearance in school history at 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.
We're going to REGIONALS!!! Tuscaloosa, here we come!!!
May 16, 2016
This is just the second time in school history that the Bobcats have earned an at-large bid with five conference tournament championships sending them the other times. The last regional appearance for head coach Ricci Woodard and the Bobcats was in 2012.
"I couldn't be more proud of this group of young ladies and what they have accomplished and the hard work that they have put in," said Woodard. "It's very deserving and well-earned for a team that has worked their tail off to get to this spot."
Alabama, the host of the regional, earned the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Cal and 'Bama, Samford is the fourth team in the Bobcats regional. Texas State most recently competed against Cal during the 2014 season. The Bobcats won the match-up by a score of 4-3 in San Diego, Calif. with a walk-off home run. This will be the third meeting all-time against Alabama, fourth meeting against Cal, and second meeting against Samford.
The Bobcats came into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed after winning its last 10 straight conference games including sweeps over South Alabama, Appalachian State, and UT Arlington. In the conference tournament, the Bobcats went 3-2 overall with a come from behind victory over Troy in the opening game, another win over South Alabama, and a victory in the elimination game against Georgia State.
To start the year, Texas State went 9-2 in its first 11 games to match the best start in school history. The Bobcats opened up the year with two key victories over Oklahoma State in the CenturyLink Classic and added big wins over South Florida, Texas and South Alabama. The Bobcats were led in the circle by sophomore Randi Rupp, a First-Team All-Conference selection. Rupp finished the season with a 1.66 ERA with 316 strikeouts in 245.0 innings pitched. She has 29 victories this season which now is tied for second most in school history for wins by a pitcher.
As a team, the 'Cats ranked in the top 10 for most of the season in ERA and currently have a team ERA of 2.15. Offensively the 'Cats came on strong at the end of the season. Taylor Webb led Texas State with a .310 batting average in 142 at bats. Senior Kelli Baker led the team with 55 hits and Ariel Ortiz drove in 37 runs this season. The Bobcats have also been a top-20 defensive team this year with a fielding percentage of .972. More information will follow on
http://www.txstatebobcats.com and on Facebook (txstatesoftball) and Twitter (@TxStateSoftball).