· Louisiana-Lafayette box score
· Purdue box score
| Junior Danyé Holmes struck out six in Saturday's loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. |
HOUSTON – Juniors Danyé Holmes and Emily Humpal turned in strong pitching performances, but it was not enough, as UTSA dropped a pair of heartbreakers to No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-1, and Purdue, 3-2, in Saturday action at the Marriott Houston Invitational at Cougar Stadium.
Holmes struck out six and allowed just two earned runs on six hits in the 3-1 loss to the nationally-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns (7-2) in the first game of the day for the Roadrunners, who fell to 2-7 with the two losses. Humpal fanned five and surrendered just one earned run on four hits in the 3-2 decision against the Boilermakers (2-6).
UTSA managed just a pair of hits against ULL’s Brittany Cuevas, who allowed one unearned run and struck out 11 in improving to 4-0.
The Roadrunners picked up their lone run in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Nikki Goff led off with a base hit to right field and senior Chelsey Chapman moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Goff advanced to third on a ground out to third base by senior Rudi Cantu and came home on an errant throw by the ULL first baseman.
The Ragin’ Cajuns knotted the score at 1-all in the bottom of the fifth, as Britni Soria doubled to left center and scored on a single to right by Lana Bowers.
ULL took a 3-1 lead in the next frame and would make it stand. Gabriele Bridges led off with a solo home run to right center and Nerissa Myers reached on an infield single and scored on a fielding error with two outs.
Cuevas retired the Roadrunners in order in the seventh with a trio of Ks to seal the win.
In the second game of the day for UTSA, Purdue jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning with the benefit of a couple of errors. Liane Horiuchi was hit by a pitch to start the frame and the leadoff hitter stole second and moved to third on a fielding miscue off the bat of Molly Garst. A walk to Erika Petruzzi loaded the bases with no outs and a sac fly to center plated two runs. Petruzzi later scored on the second fielding error of the inning.
UTSA got two runs back in the third. Goff was hit by a pitch to lead off and she moved to second on a ground ball out by Humpal and to third on a single to center by senior Kelly Cato. Cato stole second and a throwing error by the Purdue catcher allowed Goff to score from third. Cantu then reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on a base hit to left center by sophomore Ashley Kappler.
UTSA loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Suzie Rzegocki earned her second save of the season with a strikeout to cap two scoreless innings of relief.
Petruzzi (1-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits in five frames.
The Roadrunners conclude tournament play against Iowa State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.