| March 19, 2004 Roadrunners travel to Louisiana Tech for Saturday doubleheader Complete Release |
UTSA Roadrunners (15-14)
at
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (12-11)
Lady Techster Softball Complex - Ruston, La.
Games 30-31: Saturday, March 20 - 2 p.m.
UTSA vs. Louisiana Tech Series History
UTSA vs. Louisiana Tech: UTSA leads, 3-1
Last meeting: UTSA 9, LaTech 1 (Feb. 21, 2004 - Baton Rouge, La.)
Week In Review
UTSA had a busy week, playing nine games over a seven-day span. The Roadrunners dropped a pair of close games to Houston, 5-3 and 3-1, in a doubleheader at home last Wednesday before falling at No. 19 Texas, 7-2 on Thursday. In a three-game series at Sam Houston State over the weekend, UTSA won the first game, 7-2, before dropping a pair of heartbreakers, 5-4 in eight innings and 6-5 in the finale. The Roadrunners then won 1-of-3 games at Nicholls State in a mid-week series in Thibodaux, La. After losing the opener, 4-1, UTSA stormed back for a 9-0 run-ruling in game two only to fall in game three, 5-0.
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, belting 37 home runs through the first 29 games. UTSA added five long balls in two conference series at Sam Houston State and Nicholls State. Christy Brownlee leads the team with 11, followed closely by Jessica Rogers (9), Krystal Gibson (5), Amanda Horton (3), Aimee Murray (3) and Jessica Els (3).
Early Risers
UTSA has struck for runs early and often in 2004. In the first three innings combined, UTSA owns an 86-47 advantage through 29 games this year. UTSA has outscored its opponents 147-99 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 on Feb. 20 and now has upped that standard to 44. Brownlee has moved into fourth place on UTSA's career hit list at 195 and is five back of Ashley Oswald's 195 for third. She has scored 17 runs this season and is just five off the career record of 135 set by Amanda Michalsky.
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 nine offensive categories as of March 18. The Roadrunners top the charts in batting average (.293), slugging percentage (.499), on-base percentage (.375), runs scored (147), hits (220), RBI (138), doubles (42), home runs (37), total bases (375) and sacrifice flies (9). The Roadrunners also top the charts in fielding percentage (.966), a category they ranked dead last (.939) in last year. In conference games only, UTSA also has made its mark on the offensive charts. The Roadrunners lead the league in batting average (.316), slugging percentage (.528) and on-base percentage (.399). UTSA dominates several categories with 70 runs scored, 34 more than Texas State (36), 100 hits, 37 more than Nicholls State (63), 66 RBI, 35 more than Texas State (31), 16 home runs, twice as many as Sam Houston State (8) and 167 total bases, 77 more than Texas State (90).
Rogers In High Gear
Jessica Rogers has been in high gear at the plate over the last three weeks. Dating back to the conference opener with Louisiana-Monroe on Feb. 28, Rogers is batting .396 (19-for-48) with four home runs, a double and 17 RBI. In the last six games, Rogers is 7-for-16 (.438) with two homers and eight RBI. She has no strikeouts during that stretch and has just one for the season. Also an outstanding glove at third base, Rogers is fielding at a .977 clip for the season with just two errors in 86 chances and no miscues during the last 15 games.
On A Tear
Besides Rogers, a handful of other Roadrunners have been on a tear at the plate over the last 15 games. Aimee Murray is batting .375 (15-for-40) with two doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. Amanda Horton has earned a spot in the batting order with her recent success, hitting at a .429 clip (9-for-21) with three long balls, two doubles and seven RBI. Jenny Garcia has been hot of late, hitting .444 in her last four games and .345 dating back to Feb. 28, but is sidelined with an injury for the time being.
Dazzling Debuts
A trio of freshmen have made dazzling debuts over the first month of action. Aimee Murray has started all 29 games at shortstop and has been solid in the field and at the plate. She is batting .338, second on the team, with six doubles, three homers and 17 RBI. She is fielding at a .954 clip with just six errors in 131 chances. Right-handed pitchers Ursula Mares and Stevi Simpson have been the two key cogs in the UTSA rotation. Mares has made 19 starts and appeared in 25 games. She is 10-9 with an ERA of 2.76, and has struck out a team-high 103 batters against just 54 walks. Opponents are batting .237 off of her. Simpson has pitched in 17 games and is 5-5 with an ERA of 3.84. She hurled a complete-game shutout in UTSA's 9-0 run-ruling of Nicholls State on March 16.
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. Krystal Gibson picked up Hitter of the Week honors on March 9 after hitting .500 (6-of-12) in the three-game series against Texas-Arlington. She deposited a key three-run bomb in UTSA's 6-3 win in game one, posted a slugging percentage of .750, drove in five runs and did not strikeout.
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 reached 200 wins for her career in a 5-4 victory over Texas-Arlington on March 6, 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 25 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.