| Sophomore Krista Sitka had two hits and an RBI on Sunday. |
THIBODAUX, La. ? Trailing by three runs in its final at-bat, UTSA brought the winning run to the plate, but Nicholls State induced a groundout in holding on for a 4-2 win in the series finale played Sunday at Colonels Complex.
The loss snapped the Roadrunners’ eight-game Southland Conference winning streak and dropped their record to 18-15 overall and 13-5 in league play. The Colonels improved to 17-20 and 7-9.
Down 4-1 in the top of the seventh, UTSA began its rally with a single by senior Lindsay Perry, who was erased on a fielder’s choice by sophomore pinch hitter Kelly Cato. Sophomore Rudi Cantu moved Cato to second on a groundout to third and junior Leanne Risberg doubled down the left field line to cut the deficit to two runs. The Colonels intentionally walked freshman Danye Holmes to bring the winning run to the plate in the form of sophomore Krista Sitka. A ground ball was fielded by the shortstop Kat Harrell, who tossed the ball to Danielle Clayton to tag Risberg for the final out.
Nicholls broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Harrell punched through a one-out RBI single to left with the bases loaded and Kodi Butler followed with a sacrifice fly to left to give the Colonels a 3-1 lead. An Audrey Wood solo homer in the sixth pushed the advantage to 4-1.
UTSA struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. Cantu singled on the infield and moved to second on the play following a throwing error. Sitka came through with a clutch, two-out single up the middle to plate Cantu.
Nicholls answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame, as Harrell singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a throwing error off the bat of Wood.
Sitka and Risberg led UTSA at the plate with two hits and an RBI apiece, while Cantu, Perry, senior Kourtney Jones and freshman Whitney Balch also reached the hit column. Senior Amanda Nikolenko (10-8) fanned four and allowed three earned runs on five hits in the loss.
Krystalin Ensminger earned the win, striking out five and allowing just one earned run on eight hits in running her record to 6-10. Harrell led Nicholls offensively with a pair of hits and an RBI.
The Roadrunners host Texas State in a three-game set that begins on Friday, April 4, with a 5 p.m. doubleheader.