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| Senior Leanne Risberg's two-out grand slam in the eighth gave UTSA a another SLC series win on Sunday. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior Leanne Risberg blasted a walk-off grand slam with two down in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift UTSA to a 10-6 win over Sam Houston on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
Risberg, who moved into 10th place on UTSA’s career home runs chart with her 26th, sent a 1-0 offering from Brandi Crnkovic deep over the left field fence to end a wild, extra-innings battle in the rubber game of a three-game Southland Conference series.
The Roadrunners, who scored all 10 runs with two outs, improved to 10-8 overall and 5-1 in league play, while the Bearkats fell to 9-10 and 3-3.
Risberg’s grand slam was one of two in the game by UTSA, believed to be a first in program history. Sophomore Kristin Kappler launched one in the third inning as part of a 2-for-4 outing.
Freshman Amber Anderson was 3-for-4 with an RBI, while junior Rudi Cantu, sophomore Dany? Holmes and freshman Ashley Kappler collected two hits apiece, as UTSA finished the series with 21 runs off 32 hits, including seven for extra bases.
Sam Houston jumped on the board with a pair of runs in its first at-bat. Hailey Wigington reached on an infield single and scored all the way from first on a double down the left field line by Whitney Wilson. Mandy Gegen then drove in Wilson, who moved up to third on the throw home, with an infield hit to third base.
The Bearkats pushed their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third on a two-run home run by Sarah Parich.
The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the frame. Ashley Kappler led off with a single to left center and Anderson singled through the right side of the infield to put runners at first and second with nobody down. Anderson was erased on a fielder’s choice, but Risberg drew a walk to load the bags for Kappler’s second round-tripper of the year, a line drive shot that just cleared the fence in left field.
UTSA grabbed its first lead in the next inning, as Cantu singled, stole second and scored on a clutch base hit to center by Anderson.
Sam Houston retook the lead in the top of the sixth with a pair of unearned runs. Casie Everitt homered to left field with two outs to plate Callie Wood, who walked, after Amy Brown started the frame by reaching on an infield error. Brown was caught trying to steal third base for the second out before Everitt came through for the Bearkats.
The Roadrunners knotted the score in the bottom of the sixth on Holmes two-out single up the middle that plated Ashley Kappler, who reached on a singled through the left side of the infield with one out.
Sam Houston was knocking for a run in the top of the first extra frame, as Parich led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Holmes, who came on in relief of sophomore Emily Humpal in the seventh, worked out of the jam with a groundout and a strikeout.
UTSA quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Kelly Cato led off with a base hit to left and moved all the way to third on a throwing error off a sac bunt attempt by Cantu. Anderson was intentionally walked after a short fly ball to left to load the bases with one out. Crnkovic induced a popup for the second out before Risberg sent the second pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence for the dramatic win.
Holmes struck out a pair and allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings of relief to run her record to 5-3. Humpal fanned five and allowed four earned runs on eight hits in 6.1 frames.
Crnkovic gave up six earned runs on 14 hits and also struck out just one batter in the loss (4-5). Wiginton led the Bearkats at the plate with three hits.
The Roadrunners will travel to Lake Charles, La., for a three game conference series at McNeese State next weekend (March 7-8).