| April 19, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 Mares’ no-hitter helps UTSA sweep Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Junior Ursula Mares (right) tossed the seventh no-hitter in school history and sophomore Amanda Nikolenko pitched six scoreless innings to help lead the UTSA softball team to a doubleheader sweep at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3-0 and 3-1, Wednesday afternoon at Islander Field.
With the victories, the Roadrunners improve to 26-11 on the season and take the season series from the Islanders (6-32), 4-0. UTSA also extends its season-long winning streak to 10 games, including eight consecutive on the road.
Mares recorded her second no-hitter in game one, a 3-0 victory, to join Jennifer Drake as the only UTSA pitcher with more than one career no-hitter. She struck out seven and allowed three walks in running her record to 8-6 on the season. Mares, who became the school’s all-time strikeout leader last Friday, registered her other no-hitter as a freshman in 2004 in an 18-0 victory over Texas Southern.
Nikolenko was solid in game two, striking out four and allowing just five hits and one walk in running her record to 16-5 on the year.
Offensively, senior Jessica Els and juniors Aimee Murray and Stevi Simpson collected three hits apiece in the twinbill. Els drove in two runs on the day as UTSA pounded out 18 hits combined.
UTSA didn’t need much offense in game one with Mares’ no-hitter, but broke through for all three runs in the top of the second inning. Freshman Brittany Cantu led off the frame with a walk and senior Stacey Gillespie followed with a base hit to left. Freshman Leanne Risberg’s single to right center plated Cantu with the first run, while senior Mel Torres drove in Gillespie with an RBI-groundout to third. Els lined a double to bring home Risberg with the third run.
That was more than enough run support for Mares, who allowed only three baserunners – all on walks – in the seven-inning gem.
Nikolenko’s (left) right arm propelled UTSA to a 3-1 victory in the nightcap. UTSA scratched for a run in the top of the first as Torres led off the game with a double to left, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Els.
The Roadrunners tacked on two runs in the third. Back-to-back singles from Els and Murray and another base hit by Simpson, the reigning Southland Conference Hitter of the Week, loaded the bases with one out. Cantu drew a walk for an easy RBI to force Els home and junior Catherine Garza drew another bases-loaded free pass to plate Murray and give UTSA a 3-0 lead.
Nikolenko cruised through the first four frames, scattering three hits and stranding two baserunners. Ortiz pitched the fifth and allowed one run in the sixth before being relieved by Nikolenko, who shut the door on Islander rallies in the sixth and seventh, the latter ending with a bases-loaded strikeout.
The Roadrunners return home to host Louisiana-Monroe this Saturday-Sunday, April 22-23, at Roadrunner Field. First pitch in a Saturday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
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