| March 25, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA takes two from SFA Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and never looked back, taking a doubleheader from Stephen F. Austin, 8-0 and 8-3, Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners improve to 9-2 in the Southland Conference and 15-8 overall, while the Ladyjacks fall to 9-17 and 1-7. UTSA is right behind Texas-Arlington (8-1) and Texas State (7-1) in the league standings.
It was a complete team effort Saturday as the bats combined for 16 runs on 24 hits, while the pitching staff allowed just three runs in 13 innings of work.
The Roadrunners launched seven long balls on the afternoon to increase their season total to 46 in 23 games (2.0 per game). Seniors Mel Torres and Amanda Horton (pictured above) went yard twice, while seniors Jessica Els and Stacey Gillespie and junior Stevi Simpson also went deep.
In the circle, Amanda Nikolenko (left) continued her spectacular sophomore season, holding SFA scoreless in six innings in game one. She struck out five and scattered six hits in improving to 9-4 on the year. Junior Ursula Mares moved to 4-4 with the win in game two, striking out nine and walking none.
Game one was a pitching duel until the sixth inning. Gillespie broke the scoreless tie with a solo homer and Simpson followed with her first long ball of the year to make it 2-0. Junior Catherine Garza then tripled to right field and following a walk to freshman Leanne Risberg, scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kim Chavez. Torres followed with her first round-tripper of the day to plate Risberg. Els hit UTSA’s fourth home run of the frame to make it 6-0. A single by junior Aimee Murray and a pair of errors loaded the bases for Simpson, who drove in a pair to put the run rule into effect.
UTSA wasted little time gaining the lead in game two, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Torres doubled to left and Els singled to right to start the inning. Horton followed with a three-run blast to give the Roadrunners a 3-0 lead.
Horton singled home Torres, who was hit by a pitch, to make it 4-0 through two.
SFA finally got on the board on an RBI-single to right by Jessica Tullos that scored Benet Higgs.
UTSA answered with two more in the fourth on a fielder’s choice by Els and a double by Murray. Torres and Horton added solo shots in the sixth to make it 8-1.
The Ladyjacks scored two in the seventh on doubles by Tara Hersey and Nicole Carter but Mares got Carrie Woydziak to fly out to left to end the game.
Game three is set for noon Sunday.
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