Monday, March 10, 2008

UT Arlington softball takes two of three from UT San Antonio

By Pegasus News wire

Game one -- UTSA 2, UTA 1

Game two -- UTA 1, UTSA 0

The UT Arlington softball team split a doubleheader with UTSA on Saturday at Allan Saxe Field, falling 2-1 in game one, before winning 1-0 in eight innings in game two.

With the split, UT Arlington is now 6-11 overall and 3-5 in SLC play. UTSA is 9-10 overall and 5-3 in league action.

In game one, all of the scoring came in the third.

UTSA got its only two runs in the inning, as Rudi Cantu reached on a throwing error with one out. Then with two outs, she went to second as Danye Holmes was intentionally walked, before scoring on a RBI double to left center from Krista Sitka. Holmes then scored on a infield single by Whitney Balch, to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead.

UTA made the score 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. With one out, senior April Clougherty singled up the middle and went to second on an infield single by second baseman Brittany Stevens. Clougherty then scored on a RBI single to center from left fielder Katie Jones.

The Mavericks threatened in the seventh, but saw freshman Rebecca Collom get caught trying to get safely back into second base.

Janeille Nickels (4-2) got the win, lasting 4.2 innings allowing four hits and one run while striking out two. Amanda Nikolenko pitched the final 2.1 innings for the save, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Senior Laura Jones (2-7) took the loss for the Mavericks, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out 10.

In game two, the game was scoreless until the eighth.

UTA got a leadoff single from junior Christina Allen, who went to second after Jones was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Brittany Washington then reached on a fielding error as she was bunting the runners over, as UTSA second baseman Whitney Balch dropped the ball at first base, allowing Allen to score the winning run.

Sophomore Cara Hulme (2-2) went the distance for the Mavericks, allowing four hits, while fanning 15 batters.

Nikolenko (3-5) took the loss for the Roadrunners, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out two.

UTA 3, UTSA 2

Sophomore Cara Hulme pitched her second complete game shutout in as many games to give UT Arlington softball the 2-0 win over UTSA in the third game of the series at Allan Saxe field on Sunday. Hulme improved to 3-2 on the season as she gave up just two hits while striking out ten and walking only one.

The Mavs improve to 7-11 overall and 4-5 in Southland Conference play, while the Roadrunners drop to 9-11 and 5-4. Freshman Danye Holmes (3-4) takes the loss for UTSA giving up two runs on five hits and four walks.

Both of UTA's runs came in the bottom of the third inning off a two RBI single up the middle from sophomore catcher Samantha Chumchal. Right fielder April Clougherty started the inning by drawing the walk and advanced to third when designated played Brittany Washington hit a single up the middle to place runners at first and third. Chumchal's hit was deep enough to score both Clougherty and Washington and give the Mavs the 2-0 lead.

Hulme secured the win with her strong performance in the circle striking out six UTSA batters in the final four innings.

UT Arlington will be back in action when it heads to Natchitoches, La. for its fourth SLC series of the season. The Mavs and Demons will kick-off the series with the first game of the doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Sat., March 15.

Source: UTA

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