Texas Tech University Athletics
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Texas State
Texas State Shuts Out Texas Tech, 2-0
February 14, 2015 | Softball
Kristi Belshe delivered one of two hits for Texas Tech Saturday afternoon as the Red Raiders fell to Texas State, 2-0.
Feb. 14, 2015
The loss, the second of the day for the Red Raiders (4-5), evened the season series with Tech and Texas State (4-4) as the two schools will play the rubber match Sunday afternoon. Tech previously defeated the Bobcats, 5-2, Friday evening.
Tech had not been shut out this season before Rupp dealt a gem that included no free passes and a pair of hits allowed to Jordan Bettiol and Kristi Belshe. Bettiol led off the first inning with a single, extending her season-opening hitting streak to a team-leading nine games.
It was the final hit for the Red Raiders until the fifth inning when Belshe chopped a two-out infield single behind the bag at second. Rupp (2-3) closed the frame with a strikeout, one of her four punchouts over the final three innings.
Rupp's performance masked a solid performance in the circle from Tech starter Cara Custer (2-3), who took the loss despite giving up just one run off five hits in her 5.1 innings of work. The outing completed a solid day in the circle for Custer as she allowed just three runs combined in 9.2 total innings.
Mattison Maisel relieved Custer following a leadoff double to start the sixth inning. Maisel worked out of the jam with a line out to Brittany Warnecke at first base and then fanned pinch hitter Isabelle Barnes for her lone strikeout in her 1.2 innings pitched.
Texas State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Braegan Hamilton led off the frame with a triple to the gap in right center and later scored off a Kelli Baker RBI single. Baker and Hamilton both finished with two hits for the Bobcats as Baker recorded a 2-for-4 day while Hamilton was 2-for-3 overall.
The Bobcats opened the game with a leadoff double from Ariel Ortiz that set up Texas State to take an early lead. Ortiz later scored off a Courtney Harris sacrifice fly.
The Red Raiders close the CenturyLink Classic with another doubleheader Sunday afternoon. Tech will open the day with a 10 a.m. first pitch against UTSA before facing Texas State again immediately 30 minutes after.
