| Feb. 12, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907 Roadrunners win Las Cruces Hilton Invite with extra-inning thriller over Ohio State Box Score | All-Tournament Team
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Senior Mel Torres went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in, including the game-winner in the top of the eighth inning, to lead the UTSA softball team to a 9-8 victory over Ohio State in the championship game of the Las Cruces Hilton Invitational held Sunday at the Field of Dream.
With the win, the Roadrunners improve to 4-1 on the season. The Buckeyes suffer their first loss of the year in falling to 3-1.
Torres (right), who was named tournament most valuable player, and freshman Rachel Rackley both hit home runs to increase UTSA’s season total to 18 in five games. The Roadrunners slugged five in each of their first three games in getting off to a great start in their quest to lead the NCAA in home runs per game for the fourth straight season.
Tied at 5-5, UTSA plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning as senior Amanda Horton reached on an infield single and scored on Rackley’s second long ball of the year.
The Buckeyes answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run blast by Chelsea Baker to force extra innings.
In the top of the eighth with the international tie-breaker rule in effect, freshman Leanne Risberg sacrificed junior Stevi Simpson to third and sophomore transfer Kim Chavez followed with an RBI-single to left to give UTSA an 8-7 lead. Chavez then moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Torres’ single to center.
Ohio State mustered one run in its final at-bat as Stacy Hibma singled home Megan Schwab, but with runners at second and third and no outs, the UTSA defense came up with a groundout to second, a fly ball to short center field and a foul out to right to end the rally and the game.
UTSA jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third. Risberg and Chavez singled to start the frame and Risberg scored on an error by the third baseman off the bat of Torres. Junior Aimee Murray followed with a single to center that plated both Chavez and Torres.
The Buckeyes broke through for a run in the bottom of the inning as Brittany Vanderink singled and later scored on a single to right by Liz Caputo.
Schwab gave Ohio State a 5-3 lead with a grand slam to right field in the fifth. Torres answered the call with a two-run shot in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 5-all, setting up the exciting finish.
Sophomore Amanda Nikolenko improved to 3-1 on the season, picking up the win in relief. She allowed one earned on three hits and recorded two strikeouts. Jamee Juarez (3-1) took her first loss of the season, allowing five earned runs on 15 hits in 7 1/1 innings.
The Roadrunners travel to College Station on Wednesday, Feb. 15, for a doubleheader at No. 9 Texas A&M. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex. Hilton Las Cruces All-Tournament Team
Infield
Brittany Cantu (UTSA)
Jackie Wong (Utah)
Aimee Murray (UTSA)
Stephanie Herrera (NMSU)
Designated Player
Jessica Strickland (Colorado State)
Pitcher
Sarah Seagraves (NMSU)
Outfield
Laura Segall (Portland State)
Amanda Horton (UTSA)
Chelsea Baker (Ohio State)
Catcher
Stacy Hibma (Ohio State)
MVP
Mel Torres (UTSA)
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