SAN ANTONIO — Junior Caitlyn Ivy hit a three-run home run with two down in the sixth to help UTSA erase a late deficit in Saturday's nightcap and the Rodrunners swept Central Arkansas by scores of 2-1 and 7-5 at Roadrunner Field.
Just like they did in the opener, the Bears (20-25, 7-13 SLC) jumped ahead in the first frame. This time UCA notched a pair of runs on an run-scoring single by Melanie Bryant and RBI-ground out of the bat of Katie McGregor. Two innings later, the lead increased to three when Kasey Britt hit her fourth homer of the season.
However, UTSA (21-22, 11-12 SLC) rallied to tie the score in bottom of the panel.
A one-out walk to freshman Molly Fichtner got the momentum going in the Roadrunners favor and senior Kristin Kappler, Ivy and freshman Jori Fox followed with hits to knot the contest at three. Ivy’s smash to short plated Fichtner before Fox lined a double to right center to score Kappler and Ivy.
Central Arkansas reclaimed the lead in the fourth when McGregor scored on a throwing error by Fichtner. The Bears had a chance to tack on more, but they left the bases loaded.
UTSA came right back in the bottom of the stanza and tied the score on an RBI double off the base of the left field fence by Fichtner. The blast plated senior Carrie Monroe, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on junior Ashley Kappler’s sacrifice bunt.
The Bears took the lead for the final time in the sixth on Ristau’s two-outlong ball to right center off of sophomore reliever Haylee Staton.
UTSA took the lead for good in the home side of the inning with a two-out homer of its own.
Kelsie Armstrong entered the game in relief and quickly retired the first two hitters she faced before walks to Fichtner and Kristin Kappler kept the inning alive. That set the stage for Ivy and she delivered her fifth bomb of the season. The junior fell behind in the count 0-2 before crushing Armstrong’s offering over the scoreboard in left center.
Staton (5-6) remained in the game to pitch the seventh and promptly retired the Bears in order. The Austin native allowed three hits in three innings and struck out three without issuing a walk. Armstrong (12-17) suffered her second defeat of the day.
The Roadrunners pitching staff tallied nine strikeouts as opposed to just one walk and junior Nikki Goff pushed her hitting streak to six games.
UCA jumped ahead in the first with what proved to be their only run of the opener.
Nicole Beals reached first via catcher’s interference and scored after an infield single and a pair of ground outs.
McGregor tried to extend the advantage in the second after moving to third on a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. She tried to score on Shay Ristau’s grounder to short, but Monroe threw a perfect strike to Fichtner, who applied the tag.
UTSA tied the score in the fourth thanks to an error on Bears second baseman Taylor Dear. Her wide throw to first allowed Ivy to reach base and a walk to freshman Jori Fox put runners on first and second with one out. Goff delivered a run-scoring double into the gap in right center.
Fichtner’s one-out double an inning later put the go-ahead run in scoring position. She moved to third on senior Kristin Kappler’s single up the middle and scored on senior Danye Holmes' fielder’s choice.
That proved to be all the run support Holmes (4-3) needed in the circle. At one point, the lefty retired nine of 10 batters in the complete-game three-hitter. The Sugar Land native allowed just an unearned run and struck out three.
Armstrong (12-16) gave up a pair of runs on five hits and punched out nine in six innings.
UTSA will go for the series at noon on Sunday.
