| April 13, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA looks to extend winning streak at Nicholls State this weekend Series Notes
SAN ANTONIO - Winners of five straight games, the UTSA softball hits the road for a three-game Southland Conference series at Nicholls State this Friday-Saturday, April 14-15. First pitch in game one of a Friday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Colonels Softball Diamond, followed by a single game on Saturday at noon. UTSA Roadrunners (21-11, 13-5 SLC)
at
Nicholls State Colonels (17-22, 9-9 SLC) Friday, April 14 • 1 p.m. (DH)
Saturday, April 15 • 12 p.m.
Colonels Softball Diamond • Thibodaux, La. Series Record: UTSA leads, 23-22 Last Time Out:
UTSA swept a key road series at SLC rival Sam Houston State over the weekend in Huntsville. Junior Stevi Simpson went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, including the game-winning RBI-single in the top of the eighth inning, in a 4-2, extra-inning win for UTSA in game one. In the second game, junior Jessica Els broke up a no-hit bid by Brandi Crnkovic with a double in the top of the sixth and junior Aimee Murray followed with a two-run home run to right in a 3-1 decision. In the Sunday finale, Murray’s RBI-double in the top of the third proved to be the difference in a 2-1 win. Junior right-hander Ursula Mares had two victories and a save in the series sweep.
Scouting Nicholls State:
The Colonels improved to 17-22 overall with a 4-3 win over Southern on Wednesday night in Thobodaux. Sophomore shortstop Kathryn Harrell leads a potent offense with a .411 batting average, nine doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 22 RBI. Senior infielder Brandi Hahn (.363), junior infielder Leah Peterson (.342) and freshman outfielder Danielle Clayton (.320) also are batting above .300 for the year. Sophomore Ally May leads the pitching staff with a 4-3 record and 2.78 earned run average, while sophomore Krystalin Ensminger has a 3.74 ERA and 62 strikeouts.
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 63 in their first 32 contests (1.97 per game). Dating back to the beginning of the 2003 season, UTSA has slugged an amazing 347 home runs in 196 games (1.77 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 eight 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. Juniors Aimee Murray and Ursula Mares swept hitter and pitcher awards on April 10.
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 2.65 ERA, while striking out 186 batters compared to only 61 walks. Nikolenko leads the staff in victories (12) and strikeouts (87), while Mares owns a team-best 2.39 ERA and a .258 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 30-10 in the first inning this season and 102-47 in the first three frames combined. On the season, the Roadrunners have crossed the plate 182 times and have limited foes to just 100 runs.
Conference Supremacy:
Over the past three seasons of SLC play, UTSA has recorded a 54-16 record (.771). 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 13-5 start this season, the Roadrunners sit in third place in the league standings entering the Nicholls State series. UTSA is the winningest program in the SLC in conference games only with an all-time record of 223-145-0 (.606). On Deck:
UTSA travels down I-37 for a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next Wednesday, April 19.
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