SAN ANTONIO — Pitchers Haylee Staton and Jolene Graham scattered just six hits in 14 innings and UTSA swept North Texas by scores of 7-0 and 2-0 on Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.
Both hurlers went the distance and combined to strike out 10 batters for the program’s first-ever doubleheader sweep of the Mean Green (4-7).
Megan Low went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs to pace the Roadrunners (6-4). Darian Blake, a transfer from North Texas, added a team-high five hits on the evening and she also drove in a run.
Alexis Ramirez opened the first game with a walk and moved to second on her seventh stolen base of the season. After a ground out, Courtney Buchman gave UTSA a 1-0 lead with a single up the middle off North Texas starter Brittany Simmons.
The Roadrunners offense got going with three runs in the third and another three-spot in the fourth for a 7-0 lead.
Ramirez led off the third with a double to left center and advanced to third on Blake’s single to left. The Birds used their speed for another run, as the pair pulled off a double steal to make it 2-0.
Two batters later, Low connected on her third home run of the season and the blast to left pushed the lead to 5-0.
In the fourth, Victoria Birdwell was hit by a pitch to start the frame and she scored on Paige Hamilton’s triple down the left-field line. Blake then plated Hamilton with a single to left and Low drove in another run with a single later in the frame that capped the scoring.
Staton (3-1) kept the Mean Green offense from getting on track with a season-high eight strikeouts. The Austin native gave up just two hits and allowed one base runner in the final two innings.
Simmons (2-2) took the loss after allowing all seven runs on 10 hits in six innings of work.
Both starters in the circle put runners on the basepaths early in the second game, but they were able to work out of jams to set the stage for a pitcher’s duel.
The contest remained scoreless until UTSA plated the game’s only runs in the fifth.
Hamilton reached on an error to start the frame and she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. An infield single by Blake put runners on the corners and the Katy native stole second to put a pair in scoring position.
With two outs, Low singled to left to plate both runners.
That proved to be enough for Graham (2-1), who scattered four hits, walked and fanned a pair.
Lauren Poole (0-2) took the loss after surrendering two unearned runs.
UTSA will be back in action at 12:15 p.m. on Friday when they face Southeastern Louisiana (8-2) in the squad’s opening game at the Texas A&M Invitational.