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SAN ANTONIO — Freshman Megan Low went 4-for-4 and scored three runs to help give UTSA a 6-2 victory in the opener, but Houston Baptist blanked the Roadrunners, 6-0, in the nightcap behind Beth Evans’ six-hiiter for a doubleheader split on Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.
Junior Haylee Staton earned her team-leading 10th win of the season, while classmate Morgan Luksa moved to a tie for the Southland Conference lead with her third save of the season in the first game for UTSA (18-22).
Meanwhile, Michaela and Victoria Granchelli each hit two-run homers for the Huskies (14-25).
UTSA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the lid-lifter with a pair of unearned runs against Keely Shuler.
Senior Ashley Kappler opened the frame with a pop up to Mac Christensen, but HBU's second baseman was unable to secure it in her glove. Low hit an infield single to the shortstop two batters later and the pair moved up a base on a ground out and came arounf to score on senior Nikki Goff’s two-out double to left.
The advantage increased by a run in the third when senior Caitlyn Ivy singled home Low, who reached on a double down the left-field line.
Another two-bagger by Low in the fifth set up freshman Courtney Buchman’s run-scoring single for a 4-0 advantage.
The Huskies cut the deficit in half an inning later on a Michaela Granchelli home run to left following Daniella Rodarte’s leadoff single. The long ball ended Staton’s day after 5.1 innings.
However, the Roadrunners got both runs back in the bottom half of the frame when Kappler connected on her third round-tripper of the season after freshman Geena Garcia was hit by a pitch.
Luksa allowed just one hit in her 1.2 innings of relief for the save, while Staton (10-5) fanned four.
Shuler (5-8) allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits.
Evans (2-2) scattered six hits and walked just one to go along with seven strikeouts en route to her first shutout of the season in the finale.
Houston Baptist got on the board in the second when Victoria Granchelli left the park and it added a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings to back Evans’ strong performance.
UTSA returns to Southland play on Friday when it begins a two-game series with UT Arlington (13-19, 3-7 SLC). First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
Saturday’s finale will serve as the Roadrunners’ annual Strike Out Cancer game. T-shirts will be sold for $10 with all proceeds benefitting the San Antonio Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of former UTSA player Hope Ortiz.