Sophomore Morgan Luksa tossed her first career shutout, a five-hitter, on Sunday.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Sophomore Morgan Luksa tossed a five-hit shutout and senior Chelsey Chapman went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored to help lead UTSA to a 4-0 victory against Northwestern State in both team's season finale on Sunday at Lady Demons Diamond.
The Roadrunners entered the day needing a win and a loss by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi against Southeastern Louisiana to secure the sixth and final spot for next week's Southland Conference Tournament. UTSA (23-29) improved to 15-15 in the league, but the Islanders rallied for an 8-7 triumph against the Lady Lions in nine innings to improve to 16-14 and prevent the Birds from qualifying for their seventh consecutive postseason appearance.
Luksa ran her record to 4-5 on the season with her first shutout of her career. She struck out five and walked just one in her third complete game of the year.
Meanwhile, Chapman had two of UTSA’s seven hits, including her first career triple, and scored two of the four runs. Sophomore Ashley Kappler also had a pair of base knocks, while sophomore Caitlyn Ivy posted two RBIs.
After a pair of scoreless frames, UTSA got on the board first with a run in the top of the third. Chapman led off with a base hit to left field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Rudi Cantu, to third on an error after an infield single by Kappler and scored on a sac fly to center by Ivy.
The Roadrunners doubled their advantage in the next frame, as sophomore Nikki Goff walked and later scored on a base hit by senior Kelly Cato.
UTSA tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Chapman tripled to right to start the frame and scored on an error off the bat of Cantu. Ivy then drove in Cantu, who reached third after a stolen base – her career-leading 59th – with a ground ball back to the pitcher to make it 4-0.
Kelee Grimes (5-8) was tagged with the loss, allowing two unearned runs on three hits in 3.1 panels.