| Senior Rudi Cantu became UTSA's all-time stolen base leader on Sunday. |
SAN ANTONIO – Senior Rudi Cantu stole the 49th base of her four-year career, a new UTSA record, but Monika Covington and Lauren Luetge combined for a three-hitter, as Stephen F. Austin defeated UTSA, 8-2, on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The victory gave the Ladyjacks the series win and improved their record to 9-7 overall and 5-1 in the Southland Conference. The Roadrunners fell to 7-13 (3-3 SLC).
A day after tying the school record of 48 set by Shannon Steadman from 1993-96 on Saturday, Cantu swiped second base in the bottom of the fifth inning to etch her name atop the list.
Meanwhile, sophomore Caitlyn Ivy continued her torrid pace at the plate, going 2-for-2 with her conference-leading eighth home run of the season. Sophomore Ashley Kappler had the other hit, a single, for the Roadrunners.
Covington struck out nine and allowed one earned run (two total) on three hits in 5.2 innings of work in running her record to 3-4 on the season. Luetge fanned two and surrendered one walk in 1.1 panels in earning her first save of the year.
Kayla Gutowski went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs, while Kendal Harper was 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead a 10-hit attack for SFA.
SFA jumped on the board for three early runs in the first two frames.
Gutowski plated Harper, who led off the game with a bunt single in front of the catcher, with a single to right center field and Briana Bishop, who walked, scored on a wild pitch from third with two outs to give the Ladyjacks a 2-0 lead.
SFA tacked on a run in the next frame on a base hit up the middle by Harper that sent Amber Price, who doubled, home from second.
UTSA got a run back in the third with the benefit of an SFA error. Senior Krista Sitka drew a leadoff walk and senior pinch runner Celeste Carruth moved to second on a groundout by Cantu. Kappler then beat out a ground ball to the SFA shortstop, who ended up throwing the ball away at first to allow Carruth to score and make it 2-1.
The Roadrunners threatened in the sixth, as Ivy led off with a solo shot over the right-center field wall. UTSA then loaded the bases behind three free passes from Covington, but Luetge came on in relief and, with two outs, got a strikeout to end the inning.
SFA padded its lead in the seventh on a grand slam by Gutowski.
The Roadrunners conclude their 11-game home stand against No. 25 Baylor (15-6) at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.