· Game 1 box score
· Game 2 box score
| Sophomore Caitlyn Ivy hit two home runs in Tuesday's nightcap. |
SAN ANTONIO – Junior Danye Holmes collected two hits and four RBIs and tossed a two-hitter to help lift the UTSA softball team to a 12-2 run-ruling of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Southland Conference opener for both teams Tuesday evening at Roadrunner Field. Sophomore Caitlyn Ivy launched a pair of home runs in the nightcap, but it was not enough, as the Islanders pounded out 10 hits in a 6-3 victory.
The Roadrunners (5-11, 1-1 SLC) scored 12 runs off nine hits and took advantage of two costly errors in the lid-lifter, while riding the left arm of Holmes in the circle. UTSA plated 10 runs, nine of which were unearned, in the first two innings and never looked back. That would be more than enough support for Holmes (1-3), who struck out three and allowed two runs on two hits in recording her first win of the season.
Senior Rudi Cantu led off the bottom of the first with an infield single. A fielding error by the shortstop off the bat of sophomore Ashley Kappler and an infield base hit by Ivy loaded the bases for Holmes, who singled just inside the bag at third to drive in a pair of runs. Ivy later scored from third on a sacrifice fly to deep center field by sophomore Nikki Goff to make it 3-0.
The Islanders put up a pair of runs in the top of the second on a two-run home run deep over the center-field wall by Brittany Tucker.
UTSA responded by touching home seven times in the bottom of the frame. Cantu reached on an error by the third baseman and Ashley Kappler moved her to second with a sharp single to left. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Cantu came home on a sac fly in foul territory down the left field line by Ivy. RBI singles by junior Kristin Kappler and Goff increased the lead to 6-2. Sitka then launched her first career grand slam, a blast over the scoreboard in left field, to make it 10-2.
The Roadrunners tacked on two more runs in the third behind a two-run single through the right side of the infield by Holmes to ensure the eight-run rule would be in effect.
Addie Tallman allowed one earned run on seven hits in two frames in falling to 4-3 on the season.
In the nightcap, Ivy slugged her fifth and sixth long balls of the season, but it was not enough to overcome a 10-hit output by the Islanders.
A&M-Corpus Christi put up a run in the top of the first, as Hannah Schwarz drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left field by Lauren Sanders that was mishandled by the defense.
Ivy answered by lining her first of two round-trippers over the left-field fence in the bottom of the fence to knot the score at 1-1.
The Islanders took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Tucker walked to start the frame and scored all the way from first when Margo Hurdt grounded a double up the middle of the infield that rolled all the way to the fence in right center. Hurdt later came home from third on a fielding miscue in the infield.
Schwarz provided a 4-1 lead with an RBI single in the fourth and a home run from Hurdt to right field in the sixth made it 5-1. Cassie Redman singled and scored an unearned run later in the sixth after another UTSA error.
Ivy helped make things interesting in the bottom of the frame, as she lifted her second homer of the game over the left-field wall to cut the deficit in half.
A&M-Corpus Christi right-hander Elena Crabtree picked up the win to run her record to 8-0 on the year. She struck out six and surrendered three runs on five hits in the complete game. Junior Emily Humpal fell to 3-4 after allowing four earned runs on 10 hits in 5.2 frames.
The rubber game is slated for 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Roadrunner Field.