? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
| Freshman Caitly Ivy launched her fifth homer of the year on Thursday. |
AUSTIN ? Freshman Caitlyn Ivy hit her fifth home run of the season, but Texas used a walk-off single by Alexis Bennett in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 3-2 victory over UTSA in game one of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at McCombs Field. The Longhorns (37-16) launched a pair of three-run home runs en route to a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
The Roadrunners (26-26) recorded six hits off Texas ace Brittany Barnhill in the opener with junior Rudi Cantu and Ivy collecting two hits apiece. Barnhill struck out four and gave up just the two runs on six hits in eight panels to run her record to 23-11 on the year.
Meanwhile, sophomore lefty Danye Holmes fanned three and allowed just two runs on three hits in five innings of work for UTSA. Freshman righty Morgan Luksa (2-2) worked 2.1 frames, allowing just one team earned run on two hits.
The Roadrunners threatened in the top of the fourth. Freshman Ashley Kappler led off with a base hit up the middle of the infield, but was erased on a fielder’s choice off the bat of freshman Amber Anderson. Ivy then doubled off the fence down the left field line to put runners at second and third with one out. Barnhill induced a groundout and then finally retired senior Leanne Risberg ? who fouled off eight pitches in a 12-pitch at-bat ? with a fly ball to right field to end the inning.
Barnhill then helped her own cause in the bottom of the frame, lining a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right center for her eighth home run of the season. Nadia Taylor followed on the next pitch with a solo shot to left to give the Longhorns a 2-0 lead.
UTSA knotted the score with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Anderson drew a leadoff walk and Ivy then drilled a 2-2 offering from Barnhill deep over the fence in left center, moving her into a four-way tie for the team lead in home runs at five.
With the last out of the previous inning placed on second base via the international tiebreaker rule, UTSA was unable to push a run across in the top of the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, a fly ball to center allowed Desiree Williams to move to third with one out. Loryn Johnson then reached on a ground ball to the shortstop, as junior Kelly Cato threw home to keep Williams at third. Bennett, who started the game at shortstop but was replaced for a pinch hitter earlier, then bounced the first pitch through the left side of the infield to push the winning run home.
The Roadrunners grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the nightcap. Sophomore Emily Humpal was hit by a pitch with one out in the second and advanced to second on a base hit by sophomore Kristin Kappler. A deep fly ball to center by freshman Kristin Wehmeyer allowed Humpal to move to third with two down and Cato came through with a clean single to center to plate the game’s first run.
Texas exploded for six runs on the strength of two three-run home runs in the fourth. Cantu started the inning by making a diving catch in the right center field gap to rob Barnhill of extra bases. However, back-to-back walks put runners at first and second with one down. Pinch hitter Shelby Savony then launched the first pitch she saw to left center to give the Longhorns their first lead. Back-to-back hits by Williams and Courtney Craig put runners at second and third for Johnson, who went deep over the left field fence to make it 6-1.
That was more than enough offense for right-handers Erin Tresselt and Torrey Schroeder. Tresselt fanned a pair and allowed just one run on two hits in four innings of work to run her record to 5-2. Schroeder picked up her first save with three scoreless and hitless innings.
For UTSA, Humpal (12-11) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs on six hits in 3.1 frames.
The Roadrunners will travel to Nacogdoches for a pivotal three-game Southland Conference series at Stephen F. Austin this weekend. First pitch in game one of a Saturday doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m., followed by a single game at noon Sunday. UTSA is tied with McNeese State for second place with a 17-10 league ledger, while SFA stands one game back at 16-11.