Southland Conference Tournament
5/11/2012 9:18:00 PM | Softball
The game has been stopped due to lightning and rain and will not resume until 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Bearkats have had runners reached third base twice but could not convert. Center fielder Tori Benvidez is 2-for-2 with a double and third baseman Shelbi Tucker has a single.
Other results from the first round today:
TEXAS STATE 2, UTSA 1
The No. 1 seed Texas State survived an upset bid from the No. 4 seed UTSA Roadrunners, 2-1, to advance in the semifinals in the winner's bracket of the 2012 Southland Conference Softball Tournament at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas.
Chandler Hall allowed only one run and four hits in a complete game effort to lead the Bobcats to victory. Hall, the Southland Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year, improved her record to 21-6 on the year and remained perfect against conference opponents on the year (12-0). Hall went the distance in the complete-game win, striking out eight Roadrunners and allowing only one run on four hits while allowing no walks.
A two-out rally from Texas State (36-15) in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be all the Bobcats needed to pull out the victory. After only managing two hits in the first 4.2 innings, the Bobcats picked up three consecutive hits against UTSA pitcher Haylee Staton. Pinch hitter Allison Snow reached on an infield hit followed by a bunt single from Jordan Masek. Freshman Selena Hernandez then lined the first pitch of her at bat to center field for a two-RBI double and give the Bobcats the 2-1 lead.
McNEESE STATE 11, A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 3
The No. 3 seed McNeese State Cowgirls outslugged the No. 6 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 11-3 in six innings to advance in the winner's bracket at the 2012 Southland Conference Softball Tournament at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas.
McNeese State (33-19) plated a pair runs in each of the first four innings to jump out to the early lead and never trailed. The Cowgirls pushed three runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game and advance. Sophomore Katie Roux started the final inning with a lead-off home run to left center field. Senior Claire Terracina, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a double and four runs scored, continued the rally with a single. After a single from Lauren Langner, Terracina would score on a single from sophomore Alanna DiVittorio. Ashley Modzelewski would knock in the final run of the game with a single to center field, scoring Langer.
The Cowgirls started the first inning by loading the bases with two walks and a single. Terracina scored the first run of the game on a fielding error from Islander's third baseman Julia Sanford on a Marissa Koetting groundball. The Cowgirls would score their second run on a fielder's choice before the Islanders could escape the opening inning.
UTSA 4, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3
The No. 4 seed UTSA opened the 2012 Southland Conference Softball Tournament with a 4-3 win against No. 5 seed Central Arkansas at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas.
UTSA struck early in the first inning after loading the bases with three consecutive one-out singles from Molly Fichtner, Megan Low and Caitlyn Ivy. Senior Nikki Goff notched the tournament's first RBI by drawing a 10-pitch walk. The Roadrunners were unable to plate any more runs in the inning as Central Arkansas' Kelsie Armstrong forced a pop out and fly out to escape the jam.
The Roadrunners extended its lead in the third inning when Ivy blasted a two-run home run to right field. It was Ivy's fourth homer of the season and 26th RBI.
UCA responded in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run of its own. Freshman Tiffany Roby lined her team-leading seventh home run to straight center field.
The home runs continued in the bottom half of the inning when senior designated hitter Alaina Byars knocked her third home run of the season to left field. Byars' solo shot was her 16th RBI of the year. The Roadrunners' fourth run of the game forced a pitching change for UCA as Kelly Martino replaced Armstrong.
Friday, May 11
Game 1: No. 4 UTSA 4, No. 5 Central Arkansas 3
Game 2: No. 3 McNeese State 11, No. 6 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3
Game 3: No. 1 Texas State 2, No. 4 UTSA 1
Saturday, May 12
Game 4: No. 3 McNeese State vs. No. 2 Sam Houston State, 10 a.m.
Game 5: No. 6 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. No. 4 UTSA, 11:30 a.m.
Game 6: No. 5 Central Arkansas vs. Loser Game 4, 2 p.m.
Game 7: No. 1 Texas State vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 13
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 8:30 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 11 a.m. (ESPN3)
Game 11: If necessary 1:20 p.m. (ESPN3)
