| April 6, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA hits the road for key SLC series at Sam Houston Series Notes | Live Audio (Saturday DH) | Live Stats (Sunday)
SAN ANTONIO - Coming off a doubleheader sweep of Houston on Tuesday, the UTSA softball team hits the road for a three-game Southland Conference series at Sam Houston State this Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9. First pitch in a Saturday doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. at the Bearkat Softball Complex followed by a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday. Live audio will be available for Saturday’s doubleheader and live stats will be provided for Sunday’s contest. UTSA Roadrunners (18-11, 10-5 SLC)
at
Sam Houston State Bearkats (15-21, 8-7 SLC) Saturday, April 8 • 1 p.m. (DH)
Sunday, April 9 • 1 p.m. Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, Texas
Series Record: UTSA leads, 25-24 Last Time Out:
UTSA fought back from a home sweep at the hands of Texas State to win a doubleheader against Houston on Tuesday at Roadrunner Field. Senior Amanda Horton slugged a two-run home run to cap a three-run fifth inning in a 3-2 victory in game one, while freshman Brittany Cantu launched a walk-off, three-run blast in the eighth to lift UTSA to a 6-3 win in game two.
Scouting Sam Houston State:
The Bearkats dropped to 15-21 overall after dropping a Tuesday doubleheader to Big 12 power Baylor, 13-2 and 15-3. Sam Houston State is in fourth place in the SLC standings at 8-7 entering the UTSA series. Tanya Hooser leads the offense with a .351 batting average, 39 hits and 10 doubles, while all-conference second baseman Lauren Boone is hitting .324 with five two-baggers and 24 walks. 2005 SLC Pitcher of the Year Shalayne Blythe leads the pitching staff with a 9-11 record, 3.30 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Head coach Bob Brock is 824-413-1 in 21 seasons as a head coach.
Rivalry In The Making:
UTSA and Sam Houston State have emerged as two of the top programs in the Southland Conference over the past three seasons. Last year, the Roadrunners and Bearkats played four memorable games over an eight-day span that played key roles in deciding the regular season and tournament championships. In the final series of the season, UTSA swept Sam Houston in dramatic fashion, 3-0, 3-2 and 2-1, to capture its second straight regular season crown. The Roadrunners had trailed the Bearkats in the standings by one game entering the set, but finished with a two-game lead. One week later in Hammond, La., Sam Houston State outlasted UTSA in a heart-breaking, 3-0 decision in 11 innings in the semifinal round of the SLC Tournament.
Going, Going, Gone:
UTSA has led the NCAA in home runs per game in each of the last three seasons. The Roadrunners in the mix again with 61 in their first 29 contests (2.10 per game). Dating back to the beginning of the 2003 season, UTSA has slugged an amazing 345 home runs in 193 games (1.79 average).
No Place Like Home:
UTSA has made Roadrunner Field a tough place to play for opponents. The Roadrunners are 42-7 (.857) at the facility since the beginning of the 2004 season and have won 37 of their last 41 home games.
SLC Accolades:
UTSA has earned six Aeropostale/SLC Player of the Week accolades this season. Amanda Nikolenko has been named Pitcher of the Week three times. Senior Mel Torres and freshman Brittany Cantu earned Hitter of the Week honors on Feb. 14 and March 7, respectively, while Catherine Garza garnered hitting honors on March 27.
Secret Weapon:
The Roadrunners have made a name nationally for their ability to hit the home run. Over the past three seasons, a vastly improved pitching staff may be the biggest key to being in the mix for a third straight conference title. This year, senior Hope Ortiz, junior Ursula Mares, sophomore Amanda Nikolenko have combined to produce a 2.81 ERA, while striking out 169 batters compared to only 53 walks. Nikolenko leads the staff in victories (11) and strikeouts (80), while Mares owns a team-best 2.67 ERA and a .261 opposing batting average. Ortiz began the season with 13 and one-third scoreless innings and has compiled a 1.65 ERA, 12 Ks and only one walk.
Starting Early:
UTSA has outscored its opponents 29-10 in the first inning this season and 99-45 in the first three frames combined. On the season, the Roadrunners have crossed the plate 173 times and have limited foes to just 96 runs.
Conference Supremacy:
Over the past three seasons of SLC play, UTSA has recorded a 51-16 record (.761). In 2004, the Roadrunners posted a 20-6 mark en route to the program’s first-ever conference championship. Last year, UTSA went 21-5 to capture its second straight regular season crown. Off to a 10-5 start this season, the Roadrunners sit in third place in the league standings entering the Sam Houston State series. UTSA is the winningest program in the SLC in conference games only with an all-time record of 220-145-0 (.603).
SLC Leaders:
UTSA leads the SLC in several major team and individual statistical categories:
Team
Category Number Rank
Batting Average .313 1st
Slugging Percentage .597 1st
On-Base Percentage .380 1st
Runs Batted In 163 1st
Home Runs 61 1st
Total Bases 439 1st
Individual
Player Category Number Rank
Murray Slugging Percentage .812 1st
Horton Runs Batted In 31 1st
Cantu Home Runs 11 1st
On Deck:
UTSA stays on the road for a three-game conference series at Nicholls State next Friday-Saturday, April 14-15, in Thibodaux, La.
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