| May 6, 2006
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4551 UTSA advances with 3-0 shutout of McNeese State Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Junior right-hander Ursula Mares struck out nine in a two-hit shutout as the UTSA softball team advanced to the semifinal round of the Southland Conference Tournament with a 3-0 victory against McNeese State Saturday afternoon at Demon Diamond.
Mares baffled the Cowgirl hitters all afternoon in a game that was delayed by about three hours due to heavy rain in the area Saturday morning. She allowed just two hits, one an infield single, and walked just one in running her record to 11-7 on the seasons.
Senior Stacey Gillespie and freshman Leanne Risberg provided the offense with a pair of home runs as the Roadrunners improved to 35-12, while McNeese State (21-30) was eliminated with the loss. UTSA will play the winner of the 4 p.m. game between Texas-Arlington and Texas State late Saturday night.
Staked to a 3-0 lead, Mares was perfect through the first three and two-third innings, striking out six until Jana Jones broke up the no-hitter with a sharp single to left field. Jenny Clay followed with a two-out walk but Mares got out of the jam with a strikeout of Michelle LaVoie.
The 3-0 lead came courtesy of a solo home run to right by Risberg to lead off the top of the third and a two-run blast to center in the fourth by Gillespie that plated freshman Rachel Rackley, who reached on a two-out walk.
Mares allowed just one more base runner through the final three frames, an infield single by Callie Schiro in the fifth.
Jessica Denham allowed three runs on four hits and struck out five in ending her senior season 13-17.
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