? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
| Junior Kelly Cato had three hits in Friday's doubleheader sweep. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Juniors Rudi Cantu and Kelly Cato and freshman Amber Anderson collected three hits apiece to help lead UTSA to a 5-3, 3-1 doubleheader sweep of Central Arkansas on a blustery Friday evening at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners improved to 16-15 overall and 11-6 in Southland Conference play with the victories, while the Bears fell to 15-20 and 6-8. UTSA now has won all eight meetings with UCA and is guaranteed its 11th league series win in the past 13 tries.
Cantu went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to lead an eight-hit attack by the Roadrunners in the 5-3 victory in game one. Seven different players recorded a base hit, including home runs by senior Leanne Risberg and sophomore Danye Holmes.
Anderson and Cato registered a pair of hits each and Anderson and Cantu had an RBI apiece in the 3-1 win in the nightcap, as UTSA pounded out seven base knocks.
The Roadrunners also received two solid pitching performances in the twinbill. Holmes struck out three and allowed just two earned runs on eight hits - six which never left the infield - in the lidlifter, running her record to 6-5 on the year. Sophomore Emily Humpal (9-7) fanned three and gave up just one earned run on five hits in the nightcap.
UTSA plated a run in each of the first five frames in the opener. Cantu got things going in the first, leading off with a base hit just inside the third base bag. She then advanced to second on a fly ball deep to left field and moved to third when the throw into the infield got away. Anderson drove her home with a sacrifice fly to left.
Holmes went yard with a line drive shot to right center in the second and Risberg hit a solo blast to right in the third to push the advantage to 3-0. An RBI-single by freshman Ashley Kappler that plated Cantu ? who singled and stole second ? made it 4-0 after four innings.
UCA got two runs back in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded single through the middle of the infield by Courtney Brock. The Roadrunners manufactured a run in the bottom of the frame to run the lead back to four runs. Holmes drew a leadoff walk and junior pinch runner Chelsey Chapman stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior Krista Sitka followed with a clean base hit to left to make it 5-2.
The Bears made some noise in the sixth as Rachel Baucom singled, moved to second on a sac bunt and to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball. Katie McGregor then drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with two down. After a pair of wild pitches sent McGregor to third, Holmes got out of the jam with a popup to shortstop.
Holmes stranded Luisa Escobar at first in the seventh with a popup and a groundout to secure the win.
Holli Hill (9-11) allowed two earned runs on four hits in three innings in the loss. Escobar and Brock registered two hits each to pace the Bears’ offense.
UCA struck first in the nightcap. Escobar led off with an infield single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Baucom.
The Roadrunners quickly knotted the score in their first at-bat as Ashley Kappler singled and then scored all the way from first on an Anderson single and error by the right fielder.
UTSA grabbed the lead for good in the second on an infield single by Cantu that plated Kristin Kappler, who led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Cato.
The Roadrunners tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Anderson that scored Cato, who singled and stole second.
Cami Newsome gave up one earned run on four hits in two innings of work in the loss to fall to 1-1. Escobar went 3-for-3 to lead the UCA offense.
Game three is set for noon Saturday.