| April 16, 2004 UTSA hosts Texas State in key Southland Conference series Complete Release |
UTSA Roadrunners (28-15, 15-6 SLC)
vs.
Texas State Bobcats (36-12, 19-2 SLC)
Roadrunner Field - San Antonio, Texas
Games 44-45: Saturday, April 16 - 1 p.m.
Game 46: Sunday, April 17 - 1 p.m.
UTSA vs. Texas State History
UTSA vs. Texas State: UTSA leads, 23-21
Last four meetings:
TSU 5, UTSA 2 (Feb. 6, 2004 - San Marcos)
TSU 6, UTSA 1 (April 12, 2003 - San Marcos)
TSU 12, UTSA 7 (April 11, 2003 - San Marcos)
TSU 11, UTSA 3 (April 11, 2003 - San Marcos)
Senior Day
Sunday's 1 p.m. finale with Texas State marks the final home game for two UTSA seniors - Christy Brownlee and Tammy Nelson. Brownlee is a fifth-year senior from Galena Park High School near Houston. Nelson attended Converse Judson High School and is in her third year with the Roadrunners after spending one season at San Jacinto Junior College. A special recognition for both seniors will take place prior to the introduction of starting lineups, and Brownlee will perform the National Anthem on her electric guitar. UTSA also is offering a softball youth clinic for girls ages 13-and-under ($15 fee) immediately following Sunday's game at Roadrunner Field.
Week In Review
The Roadrunners won 3-of-4 games on the road last week to improve to 28-15 overall and 15-6 in the SLC. On April 8 in Houston, UTSA broke the NCAA single-game home run record with 10 long balls in a 26-1 crushing of Texas Southern. The Roadrunners also tied the NCAA record for total bases with 64. The 28 hits and 25 RBI in the contest also are SLC records. UTSA then took 2-of-3 games at Northwestern State on Friday and Saturday. Freshman Aimee Murray sent the first pitch of the eighth inning in game one over the left-field wall to help push the Roadrunners past the Demons, 7-5. Northwestern State came back to win the nightcap, 8-0, behind a strong pitching performance from Aimee Ford. UTSA took the rubber game on Saturday, 3-2, with the go-ahead run coming via a solo homer by junior Krystal Gibson with two outs in the top of the eighth.
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 last year.
Going, Going, Gone
With at least nine games remaining on the 2004 schedule, UTSA already has passed last year's NCAA-leading home run pace, belting 86 home runs through 43 games for a 2.0 average. Unofficially, the Roadrunners lead the nation in total home runs and homers per game by a sizeable margin ahead of Louisiana-Lafayette (63/1.62), Arizona (54/1.32), UCLA (51/1.59) and LSU (51/1.11).
Early Risers
UTSA has struck for runs early and often in 2004. In the first three innings combined, the Roadrunners own a 155-62 advantage over their opponents through 43 games this year. The fourth inning has been friendly, as well, with the Roadrunners outscoring opponents 49-13. UTSA has outscored its foes 274-129 overall, an average of 6.4-3.0 per game.
No April Fool's Day Joke
On April 1, UTSA tied the NCAA single-game home run record with eight long balls in game one of a doubleheader against Texas Southern. If that was not enough, the Roadrunners belted eight more bombs in the nightcap to equal the mark twice in the same day. Senior Christy Brownlee slugged four of the 16 homers, two in each game, while sophomore Jessica Rogers hit three and junior Krystal Gibson and sophomore Stacey Gillespie lost two apiece. In an interesting bit of irony, I-35 rival Texas State set the record against Stephen F. Austin on March 2, 2002. One of the eight homers hit that day was by current UTSA assistant coach Stephanie Hughes. Almost lost in all the home run buzz is the fact that freshman pitcher Ursula Mares hurled her first career no-hitter in game one, the first no-no at UTSA since Denise Briggs in 2000.
Third Time's The Charm
In the third and final game with Texas Southern one week later in Houston, UTSA broke the NCAA single-game home run record with 10 long balls in a 26-1 crushing of the Tigers. Junior Jessica Ellison hit two homers in the fifth inning, the second one the record-breaker. Sophomores Jessica Rogers and Jenny Garcia and freshman Aimee Murray also hit two apiece. UTSA also tied the NCAA single-game total bases record of 64 set by Canisius in 1990, pounding out an SLC-record 28 hits, including the 10 homers, four doubles and one triple.
Movin' On Up
Senior Christy Brownlee has developed into one of the top all-around players in UTSA history during her career. The Galena Park native ranks in the top 10 on 20 of UTSA's 22 single-season or career offensive and defensive charts. She broke Michelle McElyea's record for career home runs with her 38th career long ball against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 20 and now has upped that mark to 53. Brownlee broke three more career records in the doubleheader sweep of Texas Southern on April 1. She moved past McElyea for first place on UTSA's career RBI chart and ahead of former All-American Amanda Michalsky on the runs scored and extra-base hits lists. For her career, Brownlee now has 147 runs, 131 RBI and 89 extra-base hits. Other career rankings for Brownlee include second with 211 hits, second with 687 at-bats, second with 387 assists, tied for second with 83 walks and sixth with 34 doubles. Brownlee broke the SLC and UTSA single-season home run record of 19 set by Michalsky in 1999 with her 20th against Northwestern State on April 9. Brownlee also has put herself in position to rank as one of the NCAA's all-time best home run sluggers. Her SLC-record 53 career bombs already ranks 14th on the NCAA list, while her season average of 0.47 homers per game is second. With her next homer, she will move into a tie for 20th on the NCAA single-season chart with 21, while 25 homers would move her all the way up to a tie for fifth place.
On The National Radar
UTSA's power-hitting prowess has gained national attention this season. With the release of the first official NCAA weekly statistics on April 13, the Roadrunners find themselves ranked in several hitting categories. Besides leading the NCAA in home runs (86) and home runs per game (2.0) unofficially, UTSA ranks fifth in scoring at 6.37 runs per game and ninth in batting average at .322. Individually, Christy Brownlee leads the NCAA in home runs per game (0.47) and ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.908) and 21st in RBI per game (0.98). Jessica Rogers is eight in homers per game (0.35) and 26th in slugging (.752), while Krystal Gibson stands 24th in homers per game (0.28). Additionally, UTSA ranks 30th in fielding percentage (.967) and freshman Ursula Mares is 14th in wins (19).
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 April 15. The Roadrunners top the charts in batting average (.322), slugging percentage (.606), on-base percentage (.396), runs scored (274), hits (366), RBI (257), doubles (60), home runs (86), total bases (689) and sacrifice flies (11). UTSA also has the fewest strikeouts (194) in the league. The Roadrunners top the charts in fielding percentage (.967), a category they ranked dead last (.939) in last year. In conference games only, UTSA has made its mark on the offensive charts. The Roadrunners lead the league in batting average (.309), slugging percentage (.553) and on-base percentage (.386). UTSA dominates several categories with 122 runs scored, 27 more than Texas State (95), 167 hits, 27 more than Northwestern State (140), 117 RBI, 32 more than Texas State (85), 35 home runs, 22 more than Northwestern State and Texas State (13) and 299 total bases, 79 more than Texas State (220).
At the Top
Several Roadrunners rank at or near the top of the latest Southland Conference list. Here's a look at UTSA players at the top of the league (stats as of April 15):
Player, Category (Stat)
Christy Brownlee, Home runs (20)
Christy Brownlee, Slugging pct. (.908)
Christy Brownlee, RBI (42)
Christy Brownlee, Total bases (108)
Jessica Rogers, Sacrifice flies (5)
Jessica Els, Runners picked off (8)
Hope Ortiz, Saves (2)
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-for-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-for-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. Brownlee garnered league honors for the second time on March 29 after batting 571 (4-for-7) with three home runs, eight RBI and three walks in the three-game series sweep of Southeastern Louisiana. She posted a slugging percentage of 1.857 (13 total bases) and an on-base percentage of .700 and was perfect in the field at second base. Brownlee was honored for the second straight week after batting .636 (7-for-11) with two doubles, four homers, eight runs, eight RBI, six walks and 1.909 slugging and .765 on-base percentages. She broke three school records - runs, RBI and extra-base hits - in a doubleheader sweep of Texas Southern. Ursula Mares was tabbed Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 with 18 strikeouts against just two walks in pitching 19 scoreless innings including a no-hitter against Texas Southern, completing a weekly sweep of the honors for UTSA.
On A Roll
UTSA has won 13 of its past 14 games and the success of several players at the plate and on the mound has played a big role. Six players are batting .400 or higher over the last nine games, led by Christy Brownlee, who is hitting .478 (11-for-23) with six homers, four doubles, nine walks, 11 RBI, 13 runs, a slugging percentage of 1.435 and an on-base percentage of .625. Aimee Murray is batting .467 (14-for-30) with five long balls, two doubles, 10 runs, a team-best 14 RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.033. Also over the .400 mark are Jennifer Davis (.417), Jessica Els (.414), Stacey Gillespie (.412) and Krystal Gibson (.407). Dating back 14 games to the doubleheader sweep of Louisiana Tech on March 20, UTSA is batting .378 as a team with an incredible 49 home runs (3.5 per game) and 127 runs scored (9.1 per game). Individually, Gibson (.462), Brownlee (.444), Els (.422), Rogers (.408) and Gillespie (.400) have led the way at the plate, while in the circle Ursula Mares is 9-0 with a 1.32 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 13 walks and seven complete games, including a no-hitter against Texas Southern on April 1.
Dazzling Debuts
A trio of freshmen have made dazzling debuts this season. Aimee Murray has started all 43 games at shortstop and has been solid in the field and at the plate. She is batting .339 with eight doubles, eight homers and 32 RBI. She is fielding at a .941 clip with just 11 errors in 185 chances. Right-handed pitchers Ursula Mares and Stevi Simpson have been the two key cogs in the UTSA rotation. Mares has made 28 starts and appeared in 34 games. She is 19-9 with an ERA of 2.33, and has struck out a team-high 140 batters against just 67 walks. Opponents are batting .219 off of her and she has won nine consecutive decisions. Mares tossed her first career no-hitter in an 18-0 win over Texas Southern on April 1. Simpson has pitched in 23 games and is 9-6 with an ERA of 3.40. She also tossed a complete-game shutout in her last victory against Texas Southern on April 1.
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 (now ranked No. 6) at the LSU Purple & Gold Challenge on Feb. 20-22. UTSA also pounded Tulsa, 8-2, in February, a team now receiving votes in the latest NFCA poll. The schedule also featured non-conference matchups with then No. 19-ranked Texas, Houston and Southern Miss. 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 and now has 215, 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 12 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.