| April 30, 2004
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 887-3636
UTSA downs Nicholls State in first round of SLC Tournament, 6-3 Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Sophomore Krystal Guevara had a pinch-hit RBI-single and senior Christy Brownlee added a two-run, insurance homer to help lead UTSA to a 6-3 victory over Nicholls State Friday in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament. With the win, the Roadrunners improved to 34-15 overall, the second-best win total in school history (39, 2000). The Lady Colonels fell to 24-28.
Freshman pitcher Ursula Mares worked all seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out seven to run her record to 25-9. Dione Meier, the SLC Pitcher of the Year, gave up six runs, three earned, on nine hits in picking up the loss (15-15).
After a pair of scoreless innings, UTSA finally got on the board with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Jessica Rogers led off with a single through the left side and sophomore Jessica Els followed with a line drive double off the wall in left-center field. After a walk to senior Christy Brownlee loaded the bases, freshman Aimee Murray came through with a bloop single to left center to put UTSA on the board. Junior Krystal Gibson drew a painful RBI after taking a pitch off the elbow to make the score 2-0. The third run came home on a fielder's choice to the first baseman by junior Jennifer Davis.
Nicholls State struck back with two runs four hits in the top of the fifth, breaking up a perfect game by Mares. Lindsay Coleman and Alaina Vardell started the frame with back-to-back solo homers to cut the UTSA lead to 3-2. The Lady Colonels added two more hits in the inning, but a nice running catch by senior left fielder Tammy Nelson with two outs ended the threat.
The Roadrunners tacked on one run in the bottom of the fifth. Gibson walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Amanda Horton. With one out, sophomore Krystal Guevara came through with her fourth consecutive hit in a pinch-hitting role. Guevara, who is now 9-for-16 pinch-hitting this year, lined the first pitch from Meier down the left-field line, plating Gibson to put UTSA up 4-2.
Nicholls threatened again in the sixth with one run on two hits. Leah Peterson and Brandi Hahn led off with back-to-back singles and Lindsay Coleman drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Vardell came through with a sac fly to left, scoring Peterson to cut the lead to 4-3. Mares worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a popout.
UTSA once again extended its lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Els stroked a line drive that was misplayed by the left fielder at the warning track and Brownlee followed with her 21st home run of the season, bettering her own UTSA and SLC single-season record.
Mares retired three-of-four batters in the seventh to secure the win.
UTSA now plays Texas-Arlington, a 4-1 loser to Sam Houston State, on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Southland Conference Softball Tournament
Game 1: UTSA vs. Nicholls St.
NSU000 021 0 - 3 7 1
UTSA003 012 x - 6 9 0
Meier and Eads. Mares and Els. WP - Mares (25-9). LP - Meier (15-15). Save - none. HR - UTSA: Brownlee (21). NSU: Coleman (5), Vardell (1). 2B - UTSA: Els (8); NSU: Robin (5).
Records: UTSA (34-15); Nicholls State (24-28)
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