| March 11, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA takes twinbill from Northwestern State Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Junior Ursula Mares and sophomore Amanda Nikolenko were spectacular in the circle as the UTSA softball team ran its win streak to seven games with a doubleheader sweep at Northwestern State, 2-1 and 5-1, Saturday afternoon at Demon Diamond.
The Roadrunners improved to 11-6 overall and 5-0 in the Southland Conference, while the Demons fell to 11-16 and 2-3.
Nikolenko (7-3) struck out 11 batters and allowed just one earned run on five hits in a 2-1 victory in game one. Mares (3-3) fanned 10 and gave up just one earned run on four hits in a 5-1 victory in game two.
UTSA added two more home runs to its season tally - 38 in 17 games – as senior Amanda Horton hit her fifth of the year, a grand slam, and freshman Rachel Rackley launched her fourth, both in game two.
The Roadrunners plated two runs in the top of the third in the opener. Sophomore Kim Chavez reached on an infield single and moved to third on a double to center field by senior Mel Torres. Senior Jessica Els drove in Chavez with a groundout to the first baseman, while Torres came home on ground ball off the bat of freshman Brittany Cantu.
The Demons broke through for a run in the bottom of the sixth. Sarina Noack drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single up the middle by Amanda Perdue. That was all the offense Northwestern State could muster again Nikolenko, who rolled to her seventh win of the season.
UTSA struck for four runs in the top of the first. Torres reached on an error, Els singled and Cantu walked to load the bases for Horton’s grand slam. Rackley made it 5-0 with a solo blast in the third.
The Demons got on the board in their final at-bat as Michelle Castellano homered, but that would be all against Mares, who won her second straight decision with the complete-game outing.
Game three of the series is set for 11 a.m. Sunday.
|
