? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
| Sophomore Kristin Kappler left the park for the sixth time this spring in Saturday's first game. |
NACOGDOCHES ? Sophomore Kristin Kappler hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season to help lift UTSA to a 4-1 victory at Stephen F. Austin in game one of a Southland Conference doubleheader held Saturday at Hoya Field. Kim Daley’s two-run double in the fourth helped propel the Ladyjacks to a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
With the split, the Roadrunners moved to 27-27 overall and 18-11 in the league standings, but McNeese State (19-10) took over sole possession of second place after sweeping two games from Nicholls. SFA stands at 28-25 and 17-12.
Kappler broke a four-way tie for the team’s home run lead with her two-run shot in the sixth. Junior Rudi Cantu and freshmen Amber Anderson and Ashley Kappler collected two hits apiece to lead the offense.
SFA scratched for one run in the bottom of the first with the benefit of three free passes. Kendal Harper drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kayla Gutowski then drew a base on balls and Briana Bishop was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Karissa Jones gave the Ladyjacks a 1-0 lead with a bloop single to right center that easily plated Harper from third.
UTSA answered with a pair of runs in the third. Junior Kelly Cato got things going with a bunt single up the first base line and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cantu. Ashley Kappler then lined a base hit down the left field line that easily plated Cato from second and an error by the left fielder allowed Kappler to move to second on the play. Anderson then grounded a ball of the pitcher up the middle for an infield single, but the second baseman bobble the ball, allowing Kappler to come home all the way from second on the play and give the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead.
Kristin Kappler provided some insurance in the top of the sixth, slugging her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a sky-high shot that cleared the left field fence and scored junior pinch runner Chelsey Chapman, who was on for junior Krista Sitka (walk).
Meanwhile, Holmes and the UTSA defense held the Ladyjacks at bay over the final frames. SFA left a total of 12 runners on base, including six in the last four innings. The sophomore left-hander ran her record to 12-10 on the season, striking out two and overcoming seven walks and a hit batter by allowing just one run on five hits in her 13th complete game of the year.
Monika Covington fanned six but gave up three earned runs on eight hits in falling to 18-13.
In game two, SFA grounded out six hits to earn the split.
UTSA grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Ashley Kappler singled and scored from third on a one-out sacrifice fly to right by senior Leanne Risberg.
SFA responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. With runners at first and third and no outs, pinch runners Amber Price and Candise Juarez pulled off the double steal. The throw down to second was cut off by Cato, who fired home in time to get Price, but the runner was called safe. After a strikeout and a flyout, Daley lined a double to the fence in left center to plate two runs with what proved to be the game-winning hit.
A pinch-hit single through the right side of the infield in the fifth by Sabrina Johnston gave SFA an insurance run heading into the final two frames.
UTSA mounted one last rally in the seventh, putting runners at second and third with two down, but Harper made a tough catch against the fence in foul territory past the right field line to end the game.
Luetge fanned four and allowed just one run on six hits to run her record to 10-11.
Humpal was tagged with the loss for UTSA, surrendering four runs on five hits in four innings to fall to 12-12.