· Game 1 box score
· Game 2 box score
Senior Rudi Cantu's three-run home runs propelled UTSA to a 9-6 victory in Saturday's nightcap. |
CONWAY, Ark. — Senior Rudi Cantu hit a three-run home run to key an eight-run third inning and UTSA held off Central Arkansas, 9-6, in game two of a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday at Farris Field. Kelsie Armstrong tossed a one-hitter to lead the Bears to a 1-0 victory in the opener.
With the split, the Roadrunners moved to 13-25 overall and 9-11 in the league, while UCA fell to 15-25 and 5-11.
Cantu’s blast was her third career long ball (all this season), while sophomore Ashley Kappler went 2-for-4 with her second homer of the year.
After two scoreless frames, UTSA exploded for eight runs in the top of the third. Kappler homered down the left-field line with one out to start the scoring. Senior Krista Sitka then reached on a bases-loaded error to push across the second run, while sophomore Nikki Goff followed with a base hit through the left side of the infield to make it 3-0. Senior Kelly Cato then was plunked by a pitch to force another run home and senior Chelsey Chapman drove in the fifth run with a sacrifice fly to center field. Cantu then followed with her three-run blast to give the Roadrunners an 8-0 advantage.
The Bears put up a two-spot in the bottom of the frame behind an error and an RBI double by Kasie Britt.
UTSA tacked on another run in the sixth as Cantu reached on an error and scored on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice by sophomore Laura Little.
UCA made things interesting in its final at-bat, as a sac fly by Britt and an RBI single by Shayleen Ristau made it 9-4. Melanie Bryant then slugged a two-run home run to center field to make it 9-6 and chase sophomore starter Morgan Luksa from the circle. Junior Emily Humpal came on in relief and following a walk, got a strikeout of Luisa Escobar to end the threat and earn her first save of the season.
Luksa picked up the win to run her record to 2-5 on the year. The League City native struck out a pair and allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 6.2 panels.
Bradie Baker fanned four but surrendered three earned runs on two hits in 2.1 innings to fall to 3-5.
The Bears rode the right arm of Armstrong in the lid-lifter, as the freshman struck out 13 and walked four in the one-hit shutout to improve to 11-11 on the year. The lone hit was a leadoff single by Cantu in the top of the first.
Armstrong got all the run support she would need in the bottom of the first, as Melissa Gauntt led off with an infield single, stole second and third and then scored on a ground ball off the bat of Britt.
Junior Danye Holmes (5-8) was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one run on three hits.
The rubber game is slated for noon Sunday.