? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
SAN ANTONIO ? Sam Houston State used three timely home runs and strong pitching performances from Morgan Mikulin and Brandi Crnkovic to take a doubleheader from UTSA, 6-2 and 4-0, on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
With the sweep, the Bearkats improve to 32-20 overall and 19-7 in Southland Conference play. The Roadrunners fall to 24-27 and 16-10.
Mikulin scattered seven hits and allowed two runs in game one, while Crnkovic tossed a two-hit, six-strikeout shutout in the nightcap as Sam Houston limited the UTSA offense to a combined four runs on nine hits for the afternoon.
Offensively, Mandy Collier provided the big blow with a grand slam in game one, while Sarah Parich had a key three-run blast in game two as UTSA lost a home conference doubleheader for the first time all season.
Senior Jessica Rogers led the Roadrunners at the plate, going 3-for-7 with a run and a run batted in on the day, while sophomore Rachel Rackley collected two hits in the twinbill.
UTSA struck first in the opener as sophomore Leanne Risberg was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kourtney Jones and scored on an RBI-single to left by Rogers.
The Bearkats took the lead in the top of the third, scoring five runs on six hits, including two home runs. With the bases loaded and two out, Collier blasted a pitch over the scoreboard in left field to put Sam Houston up 4-1, and Lauren Burns followed with a solo shot on the next pitch.
The Roadrunners answered in the bottom of the frame with a run on a sacrifice fly by senior Catherine Garza that plated Rogers, who reached on a single.
Sam Houston added an insurance run in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Stephanie Mosley that scored Amy Brown, who finished game one 4-for-4.
Mikulin ran her record to 16-10 with the victory, while junior Janeille Nickels allowed five runs on eight hits in three innings in falling to 12-11.
Crnkovic (15-9) was the story in game two, facing just two batters above the minimum and allowing just one walk to go along with the six punchouts.
After a scoreless first, Parich gave the Bearkats a 3-0 lead with a blast to center field in the top of the second. The Bearkats added a run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Amanda Lindsey, which was more than enough for Crnkovic.
Game three is set for noon Sunday.
