| Sophomore Danye Holmes earned the win and went 3-for-3 with six RBIs in the 13-4 run-ruling. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Junior Kelly Cato’s pinch-hit, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth lifted UTSA to a 4-3 victory over Northwestern State in game one of a Southland Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. The Roadrunners plated 10 runs in the first inning and cruised to a 13-4 run-ruling in the nightcap.
The Roadrunners improved to 25-24 overall and moved into a three-way tie for second place in the league with at 16-10, joining Stephen F. Austin (split at league leader Texas State) and McNeese State (split with Central Arkansas). The Lady Demons fell to 5-42 and 3-25.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning in the lidlifter, freshman Amber Anderson gave UTSA a spark by slugging her fifth home run of the season, a line drive shot over the center field fence on an 0-2 pitch from right-hander Kelee Grimes. After a flyout, freshman Caitlyn Ivy doubled off the wall in right center and sophomore pinch hitter Danye Holmes drew a two-out walk to put runners at first and second. Grimes then issued a free pass to junior Krista Sitka to load the bases for Cato. The Brazoswood High product, who missed the last six games and the start today due to a leg contusion, took an 0-2 offering from Grimes off the fence in straightaway center to push the tying and go-ahead runs home.
In the top of the seventh, freshman righty Morgan Luksa, on in relief of sophomore Emily Humpal, registered a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to strand the tying run at first and secure the win. The Clear Creek High graduate fanned three and allowed just one infield single in 2.2 frames to run her record to 2-1 on the year.
UTSA grabbed an early 1-0 lead in its first at-bat. Junior Rudi Cantu led off with a base hit to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Ashley Kappler and advanced to third on a single to right center by Anderson. Senior Leanne Risberg then was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch by Grimes scored Cantu from third without a play at the plate, but the Lady Demons got out of the jam with a foulout and a strikeout.
Northwestern State knotted the score in the top of the third on a double down the left field line by Tiffany Ward. Samantha Roberts then gave the Lady Demons a 3-1 advantage with a two run homer that barely cleared the fence in right center in the fifth.
Anderson had two of UTSA’s five hits in the game, while Cary Bruno led Northwestern State’s offense with three hits in four at-bats. Grimes (3-25) surrendered four runs on five hits and struck out eight in the loss.
The Roadrunners brought the bats for game two, posting season highs in runs (13) and hits (17). Holmes, Anderson and Kappler collected three hits apiece, while Cantu, Ivy and Risberg recorded two each. Holmes drove in a career-best six runs, including five in the 10-run first inning, and Anderson and Kappler posted three and two RBIs, respectively.
The first was the biggest inning for UTSA since scoring 12 in a 15-0 pounding of Prairie View A&M on April 6, 2007. Cantu and Kappler singled to get things going and Cantu came home on a bad-hop base hit by Anderson that skipped past the second baseman into right field. Holmes then launched her fourth home run of the season, a three-run blast that sailed into the trees beyond the right field fence. Two-RBI singles by Kappler and Holmes the second time through the order helped highlight the 10-run frame.
The Roadrunners tacked on three runs in the third on RBI-singles from Anderson, Risberg and Holmes.
The Lady Demons finally broke through for two runs in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Ward and Amanda Jameson. Northwestern State plated two in the top of the fifth on base hits from Randi Stuard and Roberts, but Holmes (10-10) closed the door with her seventh strikeout.
Sara Dornelas was tagged for six earned runs on six hits without recording an out in falling to 1-11 on the year. UTSA touched Leigh Appenfeller for seven runs on 11 hits in four-plus frames of relief. Bruno led Northwestern State at the plate with a 2-for-3 showing.
Game three is set for noon Sunday and UTSA will honor Leanne Risberg prior to the game for Senior Day.