Senior Krista Sitka went 2-for-3 with with an RBI on Sunday.
SAN ANTONIO — Marissa Koetting hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lift McNeese State to a 3-1 victory over UTSA in Southland Conference softball action on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
With the win, the Cowgirls salvaged game three of the series and improved to 17-15 overall and 6-6 in the league. The Roadrunners fell to 9-18 and 5-7.
With the score knotted at one in the final frame, Claire Terracina drew a leadoff walk and stole second after a popup on the infield. Koetting, who finished 3-for-3 with all three RBIs, then sent a 3-1 offering from junior Emily Humpal, who was on in relief of sophomore starter Morgan Luksa, into the teeth of a 15-20 miles-per-hour wind and high over the left-field fence to put the Cowgirls up, 3-1.
UTSA made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Krista Sitka singled off the bottom of the fence in left field and Humpal walked to bring the winning run to the plate with one out. McNeese starter Meagan Bond got out of the jam with a strikeout and a juggling catch by the right fielder Lindsey Langner off the bat of senior Rudi Cantu to secure the win.
Bond earned her 10th win of the season (10-4 record) in the complete-game, five-hitter, striking out five and allowing just one run.
Sitka led UTSA at the plate by going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Humpal and sophomores Laura Little and Ashley Kappler had a base hit apiece. Humpal (5-8) was tagged with the loss, surrendering two runs on two hits in 2.2 innings.
UTSA struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Kelly Cato drew a two-out walk and scored all the way from first on a double to the gap in right center by Sitka.
McNeese tied the score at one in the top of the fifth, as Whitney Corbello doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a costly throwing error on the attempt to get her at second base. Koetting then grounded a single through the left side of the infield to send Corbello home with the equalizer.
The Roadrunners return to action on Thursday, March 25, with a 6 p.m. contest at North Texas.