? Box score ? Photo gallery
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior Jessica Rogers, sophomore Rachel Rackley and freshman Krista Sitka all hit home runs as the UTSA bats awakened in an 8-4 victory over Sam Houston State on Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
Rogers went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and her 16th home run of the season, while Rackley hit her third and Sitka blasted her fifth as the Roadrunners pounded out nine hits off Sam Houston State starter Brandi Crnkovic.
The win moves UTSA to 25-27 overall and 17-10 in Southland Conference play, while the Bearkats fall to 32-21 and 19-8. UTSA remains in third place in the league standings behind UTA (18-5 pending Sunday's contest at Central Arkansas) and Sam Houston and ahead of McNeese State (14-10) and Texas State (15-12) with one series remaining.
Junior right-hander Amanda Nikolenko picked up her 13th win of the season, allowing four runs on five hits and struck out three. Crnkovic (15-10), who did not record a strikeout and gave up four walks, was tagged with the loss.
Sam Houston struck first with a solo homer by Casie Everitt in the top of the first.
Crnkovic held the Roadrunners to just two hits in a complete-game shutout in game two Saturday, but UTSA matched that output in the bottom of the first. Rogers and senior Aimee Murray drew back-to-back, two-out walks and Rackley followed with a mammoth shot over the scoreboard in left to put the Roadrunners up, 3-1. Senior Catherine Garza singled to right center but was stranded.
The Bearkats clawed back to within one on a solo blast to center by Stephanie Mosley in the top of the third.
UTSA tacked on three more in the fourth. Redshirt freshman Kelly Cato led off with a double to the fence in right center and scored on a line drive triple over the center fielder’s head by freshman Rudi Cantu. Rogers followed with a no-doubter to left with two down to push the lead to 6-2.
An Everitt single up the middle in the top of the fifth pulled the Bearkats back to within 6-3, but Sitka responded with a solo blast to left in the bottom of the frame. Sarah Parich homered for the second straight game in the sixth to make it 7-4, but Rogers ended her home career with a bloop RBI-single to short right field that plated junior Kourtney Jones, who doubled, in the sixth for the final tally.
The Roadrunners conclude the regular season at McNeese State next Saturday-Sunday in Lake Charles, La.
