| Feb. 27, 2004 UTSA softball hosts Louisiana-Monroe in Southland-opening series this weekend Complete Release |
UTSA Roadrunners (8-6)
vs.
Louisiana-Monroe Lady Indians (3-14)
Roadrunner Softball Field - San Antonio, Texas
Games 15-16: Saturday, Feb. 28 (DH): 1 p.m.
Game 17: Sunday, Feb. 29: 1 p.m.
UTSA Softball Ticket Info
Single-game tickets
Adults $5
Children $3
UTSA vs. Louisiana-Monroe Series History
UTSA leads, 26-17
Last three meetings:
ULM 6, UTSA 5 (March 13, 2003 - Monroe, La.)
ULM 11, UTSA 6 (March 12, 2003 - Monroe, La.)
ULM 5, UTSA 4 (March 12, 2003 - Monroe, La.)
Week In Review
UTSA went 2-3 with an appearance in the semifinals of the LSU Purple & Gold Challenge last weekend in Baton Rouge, La. After dropping opening day games to Southern Miss (3-2) and No. 13 LSU (10-0), the Roadrunners rebounded with a 9-1 run-ruling of Louisiana Tech and a 5-0 blanking of Alcorn State on Saturday. In the semifinal game Sunday morning, UTSA mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh but came up one run short to Southern Miss for the second time in three days, 6-5. Junior outfielder Jennifer Davis was selected to the all-tournament team after batting .538 with seven hits and six RBI. Sophomore Jessica Rogers and senior Christy Brownlee also had standout weekends at the plate. Rogers slugged three home runs and drove in seven, while Brownlee had two doubles and a home run that broke the UTSA career record.
Positive Preseason
With an 8-6 record through their first 14 games, the Roadrunners are off to one of the better non-conference starts in school history despite a tough schedule that included No. 13 LSU and solid clubs in Kansas, Kentucky and Southern Miss. Just last year, UTSA was 4-10 entering the first weekend of SLC play. In 2000, the Roadrunners got off to a 6-5-1 start en route to posting the best record in school history (39-21-1).
Top of the Charts
In 2003, UTSA slugged 80 home runs over 55 games for a 1.45 home runs per game average. That mark led the nation just ahead of NCAA Champion UCLA's 1.44 average. Roadrunners who hit 71 of those 80 home runs (89 percent) are back in uniform in 2004, led by senior Christy Brownlee, who hit a team-best 15.
Going, Going, Gone
The 2004 Roadrunners have picked up where the 2003 team left off, hitting 20 home runs through the first 14 games. UTSA added six bombs to the tally last weekend at the LSU Purple & Gold Challenge. Brownlee and Rogers are tied for the team lead with five apiece, while junior Krystal Gibson has four and sophomore Jessica Els has two.
Early Risers
UTSA has struck for runs early and often in 2004. In the first inning alone, the Roadrunners have outscored their opponents, 17-9. In the first three innings combined, UTSA owns a 41-26 advantage through 14 games this year. UTSA has outscored its opponents 71-47 overall.
Movin' On Up
Christy Brownlee has developed into one of the top all-around players in school history during her career. The Galena Park native ranks in the top 10 on 20 of UTSA's 22 single-season or career charts, both offensively and defensively. She recently broke Michelle McElyea's school record for career home runs with her 38th career long ball against Louisiana Tech.
League Leaders
UTSA has been one of the Southland Conference's top offensive clubs on a yearly basis since Corrie Hill took over the program in 1999. This year is no different as the Roadrunners lead the league in seven offensive categories. The Roadrunners top the charts in slugging percentage (.517), on-base percentage (.370), runs scored (71), RBI (67), home runs (20), total bases (184) and sacrifice flies (4). The Roadrunners also top the charts in fielding percentage (.965).
On A Tear
Jessica Rogers and Jennifer Davis have been on a tear at the plate over the last two weekends. Dating back to the first game of the UTSA Fastpitch Express College Classic on Feb. 14, Rogers and Davis are batting .440 and .423, respectively. Rogers has hit all five of her home runs and driven in 10 of her 12 runs during the stretch. He slugging percentage is off the charts at 1.077. Davis has hit safely in seven of her last eight games going back to the 11-3 run-ruling of Missouri-Kansas City on Feb. 14. She had a six-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-1 performance against Alcorn State (subbed for after one plate appearance). Davis also has posted six of her 12 RBI in the last three games.
Dazzling Debuts
A trio of freshmen have made dazzling debuts over the first month of action. Aimee Murray has started all 14 games at shortstop and has been solid in the field and at the plate. She is batting .300 with four doubles, a walk-off, two-run homer against Colorado State, and six RBI. She is fielding at a .962 clip with just two errors in 53 chances. Right-handed pitchers Ursula Mares and Stevi Simpson have been the two key cogs in the UTSA rotation. Mares has made nine starts and appeared in 12 games. She is 5-4 with an ERA of 2.79, and has struck out a team-high 65 batters against just 31 walks. Opponents are batting .212 off of her. Mares carried a no-hitter into the seventh and worked all eight innings in the 4-2 win over Colorado State on Feb. 15. Simpson has pitched in nine games and is 3-2 with an ERA of 3.50. Opponents are hitting only .220 off of her.
Weekly Honors
Christy Brownlee was named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week on Feb. 10 for her outstanding opening weekend in San Marcos. The senior was 5-of-15 (.333) with three homers and two doubles. She drove in nine runs and scored five herself in five games at the Bobcat Classic.
Tough Slate
The 2004 schedule features three tournaments, including the annual UTSA Fastpitch Express College Classic on Feb. 13-15, several tough non-conference games and the always-competitive Southland Conference lineup. The Roadrunners also faced No. 13 LSU at the LSU Purple & Gold Challenge on Feb. 20-22. The schedule also features non-conference matchups with nationally-ranked Texas, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas Southern. The Southland Conference Postseason Tournament is slated for April 30-May 2, in San Marcos, Texas.
Hill at the Helm
Entering her sixth season with the Roadrunners softball program, Corrie Hill has emerged as one of the top offensive minds in fastpitch softball today. In five seasons in San Antonio, Hill has tutored one All-American in Amanda Michalsky, five all-region performers and 28 all-conference players, including 15 first-teamers. Hill, who needs five wins to reach 200 for her career, has taken the power-hitting game to a new level at UTSA. During her first five seasons, the Roadrunners have rewritten the record books in nearly every major offensive category. Her teams have set 23 school records, including 12 offensive. Under Hill's direction, UTSA players have entered the top 10 list in all 22 offensive single-season and career categories kept. Current Roadrunners appear in 20 of those lists, including senior Christy Brownlee, whose name shows up in 18 different categories.
She has coached the top 12 home run sluggers in school history. Hill has averaged 28 wins per season in her first five years at UTSA and needs 32 more victories to become the winningest coach in school history. In the last five seasons, UTSA has posted wins over a number of highly-regarded programs including Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas Tech, Oregon, Tulsa, Colorado State, Arkansas and Southwest Missouri State.