Texas A&M Softball: College Station Regional preview, schedule & TV info
By Shelbie Warr
![Aug 6, 2016; Irvine, CA, USA; Beverly Bandits players celebrate after defeating the South Dakota Renegades to with the 16U Premier Championship at the Girls Premier Fastpitch Nationals at Bill Barber Community Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Aug 6, 2016; Irvine, CA, USA; Beverly Bandits players celebrate after defeating the South Dakota Renegades to with the 16U Premier Championship at the Girls Premier Fastpitch Nationals at Bill Barber Community Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9962310322ab23ca0fadc26cbf9bcb747763acf7b87021813278fc1aae02c28f.jpg)
Tomorrow @TXStateSoftball takes on @UTAustin at 4pm in the NCAA College Station Regional. https://t.co/FzzOvLeAAa #EatEmUpCats #txst pic.twitter.com/TqBaqnV0HG
— Texas State University (@txst) May 18, 2017
Texas State Bobcats
Texas State is likely the most successful of the three teams in the College Station Regional. They post a 41-15 overall record, 18-8 in Sunbelt Conference play. They are 17-5 at home, 13-6 away and 11-4 at neutral sites. This magnificent season was good for a RPI finish of 29.
They are no stranger to two of the teams on the weekend gauntlet. They bested the Texas Longhorns twice this season and fell to Texas A&M late into March.
Texas State advanced all the way to the title game of the Sunbelt Conference Tournament, where the fell to the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns 12-0.
Getting to Know the Team
The Bobcats had two players with all conference honors this season. Pitcher Randi Rupp was named 2017 Sunbelt Pitcher of the Year as well as being named to her third All-Sun Belt team.
Rupp posts a 1.08 ERA and posted 297 strike outs in her 226.1 innings in the circle for Texas State. She led the conference in batters struck out looking, innings pitched, wins and games started. Her 297 strikeouts rank fifth in the NCAA, while both her 25 wins and 10 shutouts rank seventh. She is not one to be taken lightly.
Junior shortstop Ariel Ortiz joins Rupp on the All-Sun Belt First Team. She is hitting .367 in her 158 plate appearances. With her 15 home runs this season, she is the all-time home run leader at Texas State with 33.