? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
| Senior Amanda Nikolenko tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn the save in game one on Saturday. |
ARLINGTON ? Seniors Janeille Nickels and Amanda Nikolenko combined for athree-hitter and UTSA won game one of a Southland Conference doubleheader against UT Arlington, 2-1,on Saturday at Allan Saxe Field. Cara Hulme tossed a four-hit shutout to liftthe Mavericks to a 1-0 win in eight innings in game two.
With the split, UTSA moved to 9-10 overall and 5-3 in league play, while UTA now stands at 6-11 and 3-5.
Nickels allowed just one run on four hits in four andtwo-thirds innings of work to run her record to 3-2, while Nikolenko worked 2.1 innings of shutout ball to pick up her first save of the year.
UTSA broke through for a pair of unearned runs in the top ofthe third inning. Sophomore Rudi Cantu reached on one-out throwing error by thepitcher, moved to second on an intentional walk to freshman Danye Holmes andcame home on a two-out double by sophomore Krista Sitka. Freshman Whitney Balchfollowed with an infield single to the shortstop that plated Holmes with whatproved to be the running run.
The Mavs scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBIsingle to center field by Katie Jones that scored April Clougherty.
Cantu extended her career-long hitting streak to 10 gameswith a single in the fifth inning to join Balch and Sitka in the hit column.
Laura Jones struck out 10 and allowed just the two unearnedruns on three hits in falling to 2-7 on the season.
Game two also turned into a pitchers’ duel, as Hulme wentall eight innings, striking out 15 and allowing just four hits and one walk.
The Mavs scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighthinning, as Christina Allen led off with an infield single, moved to second on aht-by-pitch and scored on an infield fielding error by UTSA’s second baseman.
Nikolenko (3-5) was solid in the tough-luck loss, allowingjust one unearned run on five hits and registering a pair of strikeouts againstzero walks. Sitkawent 2-for-3, while Holmes and freshman Kristin Kappler also recorded hits forthe Roadrunners.
Game three is scheduled for noon Sunday.