| March 4, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 Pitching, power-hitting lead UTSA to doubleheader sweep of Southeastern Louisiana Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team opened up defense of back-to-back Southland Conference Championships in impressive fashion with a doubleheader sweep of Southeastern Louisiana, 8-0 and 8-0, Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners improved to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in the league behind strong starting pitching and six home runs, two by senior Mel Torres. The Lions fall to 4-9 and 0-2.
Sophomore right-hander Amanda Nikolenko (4-3) was tough in the circle in game one, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in the complete-game shutout.
Torres broke a scoreless tie in the opener with a solo shot to left center in the bottom of the third to put UTSA up 1-0. Senior Stacey Gillespie added a solo blast of her own that cleared the new scoreboard in left center to make it 2-0.
The Roadrunners plated five runs in the fifth to break the game open. Torres drew a leadoff walk and scored on a deep home run to right center off the bat of senior Jessica Els. Freshman Brittany Cantu drove in junior Aimee Murray and freshman pinch runner Tamieka Trujillo with a bases-loaded single to center and senior Amanda Horton later scored on a double-play ball to increase the lead to 7-0.
UTSA ended game one on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Horton that scored junior pinch runner Catherine Garza with the eighth run of the game, putting the run-rule into effect.
Jessica Sander (0-3) allowed four earned runs on six hits in the loss, while UTSA touched up reliever Jamie Militello for four runs – two earned – on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Senior right-hander Hope Ortiz (1-0) befuddled the Lion hitters in game two, striking out three and allowing just two hits and one walk in the shutout.
UTSA scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first in game two. Freshman Rachel Rackley reached on a two-out error, Murray followed with a double to right and both scored on a double to left center by Horton.
Torres led off the third with her second solo blast of the day to put the Runner up 3-0.
The Roadrunners tacked on two more unearned runs in the fourth as sophomore Kim Chavez laid down a two-out bunt that the SLU pitcher had trouble fielding, allowing Horton to score. Torres lined a single through the left side to score freshman Leanne Risberg with the fifth run.
UTSA put the eight-run rule into effect again with three runs in the fifth. Murray led off with a solo home run, Horton walked and Cantu slapped a two-run shot to center to end the game.
Rachael Schwartz allowed eight runs – four earned – on seven hits in falling to 4-4.
Game three is set for noon Sunday.
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