| April 8, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA takes two from Sam Houston Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Behind clutch hitting from juniors Aimee Murray and Stevi Simpson (right) and solid pitching from junior Ursula Mares and sophomore Amanda Nikolenko, the UTSA softball team swept a doubleheader at Sam Houston State, 4-2 and 3-1, Saturday afternoon at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
The Roadrunners extend their win streak to four games with the two victories and move to 20-11 overall and 12-5 in the Southland Conference. The Bearkats fall to 15-23 and 8-10.
Simpson had four hits and three runs batted in the twinbill, including the game-winning single in the first game, while Murray stroked a two-run home run that proved to be the difference in game two.
The pitching duo of Mares and Nikolenko combined for 12 strikeouts and allowed just three runs in 15 innings of work.
In what is shaping into one of the better rivalries in the league, UTSA now has won five of the last six meetings with Sam Houston, all games that have been decided by three runs or less.
In game one, a 4-2, eight-inning affair, UTSA rode the strong right arm of Nikolenko, who improved to 12-5 with a seven-strikeout, nine-hit outing, and got hits from eight different players, including a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance from Simpson.
The Roadrunners struck first with a run in the top of the second inning. Freshman Brittany Cantu reached on a one-out single through the left side of the infield, moved to second on a single to right center by senior Stacey Gillespie and scored on a hard single to the gap in left center by Simpson.
The Bearkats answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Tanya Hooser drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a bases-loaded, two-out single up the middle by Kendra Spivey. Gillespie earned her first of two outfield assists in the game, nailing Megan Beard at the plate to end the inning.
The game turned into a pitcher’s duel until the eighth as Nikolenko fanned six batters from the fourth inning on, while Bearkat starter Shalayne Blythe allowed only four base runners in innings four through seven.
UTSA broke through for three runs in the top of the eighth. Senior Amanda Horton got things going with a leadoff walk. A fielding error on the infield put Cantu on base and junior Catherine Garza’s loaded the bases with nobody out. Gillespie drove a Blythe offering to center field to plate Horton and Simpson followed with a single to put UTSA up 3-1. Freshman Leanne Risberg tacked on an insurance run with a single just inside the bag at third base to make it 4-1.
The Bearkats mounted a rally in their final at-bat. Lauren Boone led off with a single through the right side and moved to second in a walk to Elizabeth Gibson. Mandy Collier followed a fly out with a double to left field that pushed Boone home with the second run. Mares (left) came on in relief of Nikolenko and got out of the jam with a strikeout and a foul out in picking up her first save of the year.
Brandi Crnkovic was the story for the first part of game two as the Bearkat right-hander carried a 1-0 lead and a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
Sam Houston’s run came on a balk call with runners at second and third and two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Boone was awarded home after starting the frame with a walk.
Senior Jessica Els broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the top of the sixth inning, lining a double to the wall in right center. Murray followed with a line drive blast that just cleared the fence in right field that extended her season-best hitting streak to 11 games and gave UTSA a 2-1 lead.
Simpson added an important run in the top of the seventh, driving her second home run of the year to deep left center field to make it 3-1 Roadrunners.
Murray made a key defensive play in the bottom of the seventh to help UTSA to the win. With runners at first and second and no outs after back-to-back singles to Collier and Kara Reeves, Murray fielded a hard ground ball off the bat of Danyell Hines, tagged pinch runner Krystal Gay going to third and fired to senior Mel Torres covering second to erase pinch runner Whitney Heath. Mares then got leadoff hitter Sarah Parich to fly out to center field to end the game and the sweep.
Mares scattered seven hits and struck out five in running her record to 6-6 on the season. Crnkovic allowed three runs on four hits and struck out nine in falling to 2-5 on the year.
Game three is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
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