NACOGDOCHES — UTSA won its fourth consecutive Southland Conference tilt with a 3-2 win at Stephen F. Austin in Saturday's first game of a doubleheader before falling 4-3 in the nightcap at SFA Field.
The Roadrunners, now 6-14 overall and 4-4 in league play, did all of their damage in the first inning of the opener.
Senior Carrie Monroe reached on an error by shortstop Elizabeth Arana and she then swiped her third base of the season before a walk and single through the left side off the bat of junior Caitlyn Ivy loaded the bases. Monroe then crossed the plate on a Monika Covington wild pitch. After a strikeout, senior pitcher Emily Humpal helped her own cause with an infield single to score Fichtner and Ivy came home on a fielding error by first baseman Laren Luetege.
That would be all the offense UTSA managed the rest of the way, but it proved to be enough for Humpal and senior Danye Holmes, who entered the game in the fourth.
The Ladyjacks (6-19, 2-6 SLC) benefitted from their patience at the plate, getting a run on three walks and a hit batter.
That run chased Humpal from the contest and Holmes promptly got a strikeout and lineout to preserve the 3-1 lead. The lefty then retired eight consecutive hitters before Krista Hallmark’s first home run of the season made it 3-2 with two down in the seventh. However, Holmes (1-2) got Bethany Brown to pop up to end the game for first win of the season. She allowed just one hit in her 3.2 innings and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
Both starting pitchers opened the second game with three strong innings before sophomore Haylee Staton ran into trouble in the fourth.
A walk, single and sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out for Cadie Weaver, who delivered a sacrifice fly and Luetege made it 2-0 when she scored on a wild pitch. Staton then hit a batter, gave up a single through the left side and walked Brown before being pulled in favor of junior Morgan Luksa. Amber Price greeted Luksa with a two-run single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.
UTSA rallied for a three-spot in the sixth.
After being held hitless in the opening game, freshman Molly Fichtner led off the inning with a single up the middle before Ivy drew a walk. Senior Kristin Kappler followed with a double to right center to plate Fichtner and, a batter later, junior Nikki Goff’s two-run two-bagger brought the Roadrunners within one at 4-3.
However, that was the closest the Roadrunners got, as Covington came out of the bullpen to record a pair of strikeouts to end the sixth and she then retired the side in order in the seventh for her third save of the season.
Staton (2-6) surrendered four runs on three hits in 4.1 panels.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for noon on Sunday.
