MONROE, La. – Coming off a run-rule victory over the SEC's Ole Miss, the Warhawks (19-6, 4-1 Sun Belt) look to continue their strong start in conference play as they host Texas State at the ULM Softball Complex.
The series was originally scheduled for a Saturday-Sunday slate, but has since been moved to Sunday-Monday due to inclement weather in the area throughout the weekend.
The conference showdown now opens on Sunday, March 22 with the Warhawks taking on the Bobcats (18-12, 4-2 Sun Belt) at 5 p.m. The series will concluded on Monday, March 23 with a doubleheader with games scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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Series Schedule
Sunday, March 22 5 p.m.
Monday, March 23 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
Scouting the Opponent
Under the veteran leadership of head coach Ricci Woodward, the Texas State Bobcats enter the weekend series with an 18-12 record overall and a 4-2 record in Sun Belt action. The Bobcats come into the weekend off a midweek, doubleheader sweep of Stephen F. Austin.
In non-conference action, the Bobcats have taken on one ranked opponent, then-ranked No. 16 Auburn. Texas State dropped a 2-6 decision to the Tigers.
The two programs have faced Southern Illinois Edwardsville in non-conference play this season. The Bobcats took a 2-10 lost to the Cougars as the Warhawks earned a 4-3 victory.
The Bobcats started off Sun Belt play strong, sweeping Georgia Southern in a three-game series. Texas State's two losses in conference play came at the hands of Georgia State, who took a 2-1 series victory.
Kendall Wiley and Ariel Ortiz anchor the Texas State offense, averaging .402 and .366 respectively.
The Bobcats average .296 as a team at the plate and are third in the Sun Belt in home run, going yard 35 times in 2015
Randi Rupp leads the Texas State pitching staff as she owns a 2.78 ERA through 138.1 innings pitch. Her opponents average .215 against her, and she has struck out a team-high 165 batters.
Series History
This marks only the second time that Texas State and ULM have faced each other in conference play as the two were long-time opponents in the Southland conference.
Texas State holds the all-time series lead with a 32-34 record, as the Bobcats took a 2-1 series victory in 2014.
The Warhawks are looking for their first series win over the Bobcats since the 2006 season when the two programs were Southland Conference members.
Leading Off
•ULM returns to Sun Belt action, taking on Texas State in a three-game series. The Bobcats lead the series 32-34. This is only the second time the programs have met for Sun Belt action after being long-time foes in the Southland Conference.
•The Warhawks are looking for its first series win over Texas State since 2006, ULM's last season in the Southland before moving to SBC.
•The Warhawks' picked up their ninth run-rule victory of the season taking down SEC opponent Ole Miss by a 9-1 score. The win marked ULM's 19th victory on the season as the Warhawks are just six wins away from matching its 2014 season win total.
•The Warhawks 4-1 start in Sun Belt Conference play is the best start for the program since moving to the conference in 2007.
•Melanie Coyne dealt a two-hit, shut out to the Jaguars to mark back-to-back shut out outings. The complete game shut out was the first of her career. The win moved Coyne to 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in conference play. She has allowed one run in her last three starts.
•ULM's 84 stolen bases averaged for 3.23 stolen bases per game to rank third in the country. Rochelle Roberts continues to be a perfect 22-22 in stolen base attempts, which leads the team and the conference. Roberts ranks 7 in the nation in stolen bases per game.
Game Rewind
OXFORD, Miss. – Powered by an eight-run, first inning, the Warhawks took home a 9-1 run-rule victory over Ole Miss, their first of two SEC opponents in the month of March, at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The victory marked the ninth game the Warhawks (19-7, 4-1 SBC) have won in six innings of less in the 2015 season.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne led the way in the circle, pitching a complete. Coyne allowed a lone run off five hits to move to 6-3 on the season. Madi Osias took the loss for the Rebels (15-12, 0-6 SEC).
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts and junior Faith Bohack led the offensive charge for the Warhawks. Roberts went 2-for-4 while picking up two RBI as Bohack picked up two RBI and scored a run.
Coyne added to the offense going 1-for-2 with an RBI.
