UTSA Roadrunners (5-7, 0-0 SLC) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (7-8, 0-0 SLC)
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ? 1/3 p.m. (DH)
Wednesday, Feb. 25 ? 1 p.m.
Islander Field (300) ? Corpus Christi, Texas
Series History: UTSA leads, 18-10
Last Meeting: UTSA, 6-1 (Feb. 27, 2008)
SAN ANTONIO ? UTSA (5-7) will open Southland Conference play with athree-game series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7-8) onTuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 24-25, at Islander Field.
On The Web: Live stats will be available at goUTSA.com.
Base Hits:
? UTSA is 7-9 all-time in conference openers, including 1-2 under Lori Cook
? UTSA leads the all-time series, 18-10, including 8-6 at Islander Field
? The Roadrunners won the last meeting, 6-1, on Feb. 27, 2008, but the Islanders won the series, 2-1
? Junior Kelly Cato is 6-for-9 (.667) with two home runs and six RBIs during her three-game hitting streak
? Sophomore Kristin Kappler is riding a five-game hitting streak
? Last year, sophomore Dany? Holmes became the first Roadrunner to earn all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season (2nd team pitcher, 3rd team catcher)
? Senior Leanne Risberg has 25 career home runs and will move into a tie for 10th place on UTSA’s all-time list with her next long ball
? Junior Rudi Cantu recorded her fifth career triple against Prairie View A&M on Feb. 8, moving her into a four-way tie for third place on UTSA’s career list ... Shannon Steadman holds the school record with seven
UTSA/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Series History: The Roadrunners lead the all-time series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 18-10, including an 8-6 advantage at Islander Field. UTSA won the last meeting, 6-1, on Feb. 27, 2008, in San Antonio, but the Islanders took the series, 2-1. Fourth-year head coach Lori Cook is 7-3 against A&M-Corpus Christi.
Last Time Out: UTSA split a doubleheader with North Texas last Tuesday at Roadrunner Field. Junior Kelly Cato went a combined 5-for-6 with two home runs and six RBIs in the twinbill. The Roadrunners pounded the Mean Green, 8-0, in six innings in the nightcap after dropping the opener, 8-3.
Approaching 500: UTSA is approaching victory No. 500 for the program, as it carries a 496-412-2 record into the three-game series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Memorable Debut: Freshman Amber Anderson enjoyed a memorable debut weekend at the Aggie Classic in College Station on Feb. 6-8. The Alvin native batted .588 with 10 hits, three runs, two doubles, a pair of home runs, five RBIs, a 1.059 slugging percentage and a .611 on-base percentage. She went a combined 6-for-8 with three RBIs on day one of the tournament, including a solo home run in her first-ever collegiate at-bat against Tulsa. Anderson is believed to be the first Roadrunner to ever go yard in her first at-bat with the program. On Feb. 10, she was tabbed Southland Conference Hitter of the Week for her performance.
Alvin Express: A pair of Roadrunners ? junior Rudi Cantu and freshman Amber Anderson ? hail from Alvin, Texas, the hometown of Nolan Ryan. Cantu has been named all-conference in each of her first two seasons with the program, including first-team accolades at second base last year after batting .316 with a team-high 56 hits and 38 runs scored in her sophomore campaign. Cantu is a preseason first-team All-SLC pick this year and is tied for third on UTSA’s career triples list with five and seventh with 22 stolen bases. Anderson helped guide Alvin to the Class 5A State Championship last season, earning all-state and state tournament MVP honors. She is batting .390 with two home runs and seven RBIs and was tabbed SLC Hitter of the Week on Feb. 10 after an impressive debut at the Aggie Classic.
Brazoswood Buddies: Three of UTSA’s four starting infielders all hail from Brazoswood High School, located in Clute, Texas. Junior shortstop Kelly Cato and sisters Kristin, a sophomore third baseman, and Ashley, a freshman second baseman, Kappler all played for the Buccaneers, a traditionally-strong program.
Dual Threats: UTSA has several players who can contribute at the plate and in the circle, beginning with sophomore Dany? Holmes. The Sugar Land native became the first player in school history to earn all-conference honors at two different positions in the same season when she was named second team at pitcher and third team at designated player. Holmes batted .357 with five hits and three RBIs at the Getterman Classic, including the game-winning, two-run blast in the 2-1 Northwestern State victory, and is hitting .387 with two homers and seven RBIs overall. Holmes also totes a 2-2 record, 1.55 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 31.2 innings of work. In fact, UTSA boasts four pitchers who also will see time at the plate. Sophomore Emily Humpal, a Corpus Christi native who transferred after her freshman season at Creighton, has made eight appearances in the circle, posting two wins and a save, and has been in the lineup at first base three through the first 12 games. Freshman Amber Anderson has pitched in three games and is the team’s second-leading hitter with her .390 batting average. Freshman Morgan Luksa pitched against Prairie View A&M and also will see time in the outfield this season.
SLC Preseason Polls: UTSA has been picked to finish third in the Southland Conference Preseason Polls by both the head coaches and sports information directors. The Roadrunners picked up one first-place vote and tallied 90 points in the coaches’ poll for third behind preseason favorite and defending SLC Tournament Champion Stephen F. Austin and defending regular season champ Texas State. UTSA garnered a pair of first-place votes and 84 total points in the SIDs’ poll for third behind SFA and Texas State.
Trio named to Preseason All-SLC Team: Junior Rudi Cantu has been named to the Southland Conference Preseason First Team at second base, while senior outfielder Leanne Risberg and sophomore pitcher/designated player Dany? Holmes are second-team selections.
Head Coach Lori Cook: Head coach Lori Cook is in her fourth season at the helm of the program and is in her ninth year overall in the Alamo City. In her three seasons as the third head coach in school history, Cook has posted 93-76 record (.550 winning percentage), including a 60-27 (.690) mark in Southland Conference play. Under her direction, UTSA has won at least 18 conference games and finished in the top three in the league standings each season, captured one SLC regular season and one tournament crown and made one NCAA Tournament appearance. Fifteen Roadrunners have combined to earn 20 All-SLC accolades during her head coaching tenure. Prior to her promotion to head coach in September 2005, Cook spent one season as associate head coach after serving as assistant coach for three seasons and a volunteer assistant in 2001, all under Corrie Hill. A native of Napa, Calif., Cook also has coached at Baylor (1999-2000), Cosumnes River College (1996-98), Peanut (Italy) Softball Club (1995-96), Napa Valley College (1991-95), Cal State Hayward (1990-91). She played two seasons at Napa Valley College before finishing her collegiate career at Nebraska in 1989-90. Cook also played professionally overseas for Ronchi dei Legionari (Italy) in 1992.
Next Up: UTSA will host Sam Houston State this Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 1.
