Mar 19th, 2007 04:16AM
by:

By CODY USHER
UCA ASSISTANT SID

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Texas-San Antonio used six home runs in two games to sweep Central Arkansas in a Southland Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon (March 17). The Roadrunners (15-16, 9-2) won the first game 10-1 in six innings and took the nightcap 7-2 from the Bears (8-18, 0-8).

In game one, UCA took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when senior left fielder Amy Sperle led the frame off with a single and was later scored on a double to left field by junior shortstop Janae Owens.

Roadrunner right fielder Kim Chavez hit a two-run homer in the third to put UTSA up 2-1. An error in the fourth inning led to a UTSA run. Shortstop Aimee Murray hit a three-run blast to center field in the fifth inning to put the Roadrunners up 6-1. The game ended in the bottom of the sixth after a Murray sacrifice fly and a three-run home run by Leanne Risberg.

UCA freshman center fielder Sarah Garcia was responsible for two of the Bears' four hits.

UTSA hurler Amanda Nikolenko (9-10) threw six innings and gave up four hits, one run and struck out three. UCA junior Lyndsey Harris (3-7) surrendered 14 hits, eight earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.

An error in the bottom of the first of game two led to two scores for the Roadrunners. Kourtney Jones and Jessica Rogers hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the fifth inning to put UTSA up 4-0. Catcher Catherine Garza add a two-run shot later in the frame to go up 6-0.

Risberg hit a sacrifice fly, scroing Rogers in the sixth inning to give the Roadrunners a 7-0 advantage.

The Bears threatened in the top of the seventh when Sperle led the inning off with a tripe to center field. Garcia followed with a single over the head of Risberg in center. Junior cather Brittany Bearden then hit a double, scoring Sperle. After pinch running freshman Hannah Ambrose for Bearden, Owens hit a sac fly, scoring Garcia. Freshman Keatha Tollett hit a grounded out to the shorstop and Ambrose was thrown out at the plate for a game-ending double play.

Bearden went 3-for-4 at the plate and freshman second baseman Catherine Jones was 2-for-3.

UTSA pitcher Janeille Nicklees (6-6) gave up nine hits, two runs, four walks and struck out seven in seven innings. UCA freshman starter tiffany Swanson (2-6) gave up eight hits, four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

UCA and UTSA will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.