? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
| Freshman Danye Holmes was a combined 4-for-6 and picked up the game two victory during Saturday's doubleheader. |
AUSTIN ? Freshman Danye Holmes struck out seven in an impressive pitching debut and was 3-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate to help lead UTSA to a 3-2 win at No. 22 Texas in game two of a season-opening doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at McCombs Field.
Sophomore Krista Sitka went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, but Megan Denny struck out 17 in a complete-game three-hitter to help lead the Longhorns past the Roadrunners, 3-1, in the opener.
Holmes was out shy of a complete game, scattering 10 hits in earning her first collegiate win in the circle. She walked just one batter and allowed two earned runs against the nationally-ranked Longhorns. The lefty also had the game-winning double in the top of the seventh as part of a 4-for-6 showing in the twinbill.
UTSA loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth. Sitka drew a two-out walk to force in the initial run and Holmes then chopped an infield single that plated senior Kourtney Jones, who had walked earlier in the inning, home with the second run. Junior Leanne Risberg was cut down at the plate trying to score the third run to end the frame.
Texas pushed a run across in the sixth, as Tallie Thrasher tripled down the right field line and scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Amy Hooks.
Holmes doubled home Jones, who drew her second walk of the game, in the top of the seventh with what proved to be the game winner.
The Longhorns threatened in their last at-bat. Desiree Williams singled home Shelby Savony to pull Texas back within one. The Horns then loaded the bases on a single and a walk, bringing senior right-hander Janeille Nickels in from the bullpen in relief of Holmes. Nickels induced a Kacie Gaskin ground out to shortstop to end the game.
Sitka was one of three Roadrunners to break through against the Longhorns’ ace in game one. Sophomore Rudi Cantu added a single, walk, one run scored and two stolen bases, while Holmes was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Denny fanned 17 of the 29 batters she faced, allowing just three hits, a trio of walks and the one earned run. Thrasher led the Texas lineup with a pair of doubles and an RBI, while Gaskin was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Kelly Melone also struck for a pair of two-baggers, as the Longhorns totaled seven hits in the victory.
| Senior Amanda Nikolenko was solid in her first start of the season. |
Senior right-hander Amanda Nikolenko allowed three runs on seven hits in the tough-luck loss.
Texas struck for a run in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter Desiree Williams was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a double by Thrasher.
UTSA answered in the top of the third when Cantu drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a double to center field by Sitka.
Gaskin provided the game-winning hit in the bottom of the third frame. With two outs and runners on second and third, she lined a 1-1 pitch to left field to push two runs across the plate.
The Roadrunners mounted a rally in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. Sitka walked, Holmes singled and freshman Kristin Kappler reached on an infield error during an infield fly rule play. Denny got out of the jam with a strikeout and the Longhorns held on from there.
The series concludes at 2 p.m. on Sunday.