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SAN ANTONIO — Junior Haylee Staton struck out nine en route to a complete-game shutout in the opener and freshman Geena Garcia delivered a walk-off double in game two to help UTSA sweep a doubleheader against Central Arkansas by scores of 3-0 and 2-1 on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
Freshman Courtney Buchman went 4-for-5 at the plate, including a pair of doubles, and scored two runs, while sophomore Molly Fichtner also recorded four hits, as the Roadrunners improved to 16-20 overall and 6-4 in Southland Conference play.
The Bears (27-17, 5-7 SLC) threatened early in the opener and put a pair of runners on before Staton struck out the next three batters. From there, Central Arkansas did not advance past second base, as Staton allowed just two hits for her first shutout since a March 3 victory against Iowa State.
The UTSA offense backed the strong start and took the lead in the second against Bears starter Kelsie Armstrong, who entered the day leading the conference in wins and strikeouts.
Back-to-back doubles by senior Nikki Goff and Buchman started the frame and put the Roadrunners ahead, 1-0. Staton followed with a run-scoring single to right center for a 2-0 lead.
The advantage grew to three two innings later when Fichtner doubled home senior Laura Little, who led off the panel with a single.
That was more than enough offense for Staton (8-5), who retired nine consecutive batters at one point.
Armstrong (16-10) allowed all three runs on eight hits in going the distance.
The nightcap began with three scoreless frames from starting pitchers Cami Newsome and Alyssa Vordenbaum, but the Bears threatened in the top of the fourth.
Vordenbaum recorded a pair of outs in the inning but hit three batters to load the bases for pinch hitter Taylor Dear. However, Dear did not have a chance to give Central Arkansas the lead and the inning ended when catcher Megan Low picked off Madison Poteet at second base.
Low started the bottom half of the panel with a single before being lifted for pinch runner Siera Sproul. Sproul moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt and over to third on Goff’s single up the middle. With runners on the corners, Goff broke for second and Sproul raced home on the throw. Goff was caught in a rundown, but the Roadrunners grabbed a 1-0 lead.
The Bears tied the game in the fifth on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Melanie Bryant and had runners on the corners with one out for Tiffany Roby. Roby appeared to give Central Arkansas the lead with a sacrifice fly to left, but Nicole Beals left third base early and was called out to keep the score tied at one.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh and Buchman opened the inning with a single to left. Armstrong then relieved Kelley Martino and Staton moved Buchman to second with a sacrifice bunt. A flyout set the stage for Garcia, who gave UTSA its third win in the last four games with her only hit of the day.
Senior Morgan Luksa (4-6) gave up a run in 3.1 innings of relief, while Martino (2-2) surrendered one of her own in her 2.2 frames.
UTSA's pitchers held the Southland Conference's top offense to just one run on six hits and recorded 16 strikeouts on the day.
The Roadrunners will be back in action on Friday, April 13, when they travel to Hammond, La., to face Southeastern Louisiana (7-28, 1-9 SLC).