? Sam Houston State box score
? Texas-Arlington box score
HUNTSVILLE ? UTSA saw its 2007 season come to an end with a pair of losses on the second day of the Southland Conference Tournament held Friday at Bearkat Softball Complex. The Roadrunners dropped a 3-2 decision to Sam Houston State in the first game and fell, 6-2, to top seed UTA in an elimination contest, ending the season at 27-31.
Senior Jessica Rogers had three hits, including her SLC career-leading 69th home run, while sophomore Leanne Risberg also pounded out three hits, including two doubles, to highlight UTSA’s offensive effort at the plate today. Rogers finished her career as the conference’s all-time leader in home runs, RBIs and total bases.
In the first game Friday, Sam Houston State rallied for three runs in the final two innings in a pitching duel between Morgan Mikulin and junior Amanda Nikolenko.
The Roadrunners broke open a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Krista Sitka reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and pinch runner Kim Chavez moved to third on line drive double to the gap in left center by senior Catherine Garza. Redshirt freshman Kelly Cato then grounded a ball to the shortstop, who gunned down Chavez trying to score from third. Risberg followed a pop-up with a two-out double to left center that plated pinch runner Lindsay Perry and Cato.
The Bearkats got one run back in the sixth on a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Holly Hatcher. Nikolenko got out of the jam with a strikeout.
Sam Houston struck for two runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good. Amy Brown, who finished the game 3-for-4, singled up the middle, moved to second on a walk to Casie Everitt and scored the tying run on a single to left by Stephanie Mosley. With runners at second and third, Amanda Collier singled to left to plate Everitt with what appeared to be the go-ahead run. However, UTSA’s bench challenged that Collier never re-entered the game after being pinch run for in the sixth. The appeal worked and Collier was ruled out and Everitt was sent back to third with the game still tied. Two pitches later, a wild pitch with Lauren Burns at the plate sent Everitt home with the winning run.
Mikulin earned the win, allowing two unearned runs on five hits to improve to 17-11. Brandi Crnkovic came on in relief and worked a perfect seventh for her first save of the year. Nikolenko (14-18) took the loss, striking out six, but allowing three runs on eight hits and four walks.
In the second game, UTA jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Seven straight batters reached base, including six consecutive hits. Amanda Swofford and Kristin Moore had two-run doubles to highlight the frame.
UTSA looked to respond in the top of the second, loading the bases with one out. UTA starter Laura Jones worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.
The Roadrunners broke through in the third as Risberg doubled to center field and scored on Rogers’ 18th home run of the year. Murray followed with a sharp single to left field to chase Jones. Reliever Cara Hulme came on in relief and got out of the frame with a pair of strikeouts.
Freshman Rudi Cantu led off the Roadrunners’ final at-bat with an infield single, but was erased on a fielder’s choice. Hulme induced a pop-up on the final out to seal the win.
Hulme and Nikolenko turned in impressive outings in relief, the latter in relief of junior Janeille Nickels. Hulme (7-6) earned the win, scattering two hits and striking out five in four and two-thirds scoreless innings. Nikolenko allowed just four hits and struck out five in five and two-thirds scoreless frames. Nickels (13-13) was tagged with the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits in one-third of an inning.
