UTSA won both games in a non-conference doubleheader by scores of 10-3 and 1-0 Wednesday evening in San Antonio. Second baseman Dani Allen was 4-for-7 at the plate in the two games. The losses dropped Sam Houston to 14-25 for the year. The Roadrunners upped their record to 16-25.
Allen went 3-for-4 in the first game as the Bearkats took an early lead. Sam Houston posted a three runs in the top of the first but the Roadrunners jumped back to at least one run in each of the first five frames. Allen started things with a double. Third baseman Breanna Homer walked and catcher Katie Doerre singled to load the bases. Errors by both the UTSA catcher and shortstop allowed the Sam women to score their three runs.
Catcher Randee Crawford posted a three-run home run in the second inning and left fielder Bailee Baldwin added two more runs with another homer in the third to power the Roadrunners to a 7-3 lead. UTSA added another tally in the fourth and two more in the fifth as the home squad totaled 12 hits for the contest.
Tayler Atkinson (7-9) was the losing pitcher for the Bearkats after giving up seven hits and seven runs in two hits. Lindsey McLeod finished the contest in relief.
The nightcap was a pitching duel between Sam Houston's Jordon Franks and UTSA's Nicole Merrill. Franks limited the Roadrunners to four hits, striking out two batters. Merrill spread six Bearkat hits over seven innings and struck out four to earn the victory. An unearned run in the bottom of the first inning was enough for UTSA to pick up the doubleheader sweep.
Sam Houston had two scoring opportunities. With one out in the fourth inning, Allen singled then moved to second on a ground out. After reaching third on a hard hit single to left field by outfielder Samantha Belongia, Allen raced for home but was thrown out at the plate.
In the fifth inning, Goetz, shortstop Tiffany Castillo and Belongia each singled to load the bases with two outs. Hannah Marino's pinch hit shot to left field was caught for the out.
Sam Houston returns to Southland Conference action as the women play host to Houston Baptist in a three-game series this weekend at the Softball Complex. The series begins with a 3 p.m. doubleheader Friday and ends with a 3 p.m. single game Saturday.
The contest is the first in a five-game home stand for the Kats. Texas A&M visits for a 4:30 p.m. non-conference doubleheader Tuesday, April 20.
