Thumbnail photo is courtesy of UTSA Athletics

SAN ANTONIO- Senior Ashley Kappler’s RBI-double in the 10th inning lifted UTSA to a 2-1 win and series sweep over UT Arlington in its annual Strike Out Cancer game on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

Junior Haylee Staton tossed six shutout innings in relief for her second victory in as many days to help the Roadrunners improve to 20-22 overall and 9-5 in Southland Conference play. In addition, classmate Samantha Beeson’s RBI-triple aided UTSA’s third consecutive win over the Mavericks (13-21, 3-9 SLC).

After a leadoff walk to senior Nikki Goff and an out in the second inning, Beeson put the Roadrunners on the board with the first triple of her career to right center. The Austin native’s line drive was just out of the reach of center fielder Stephanie Gonzalez. After her unsuccessful diving attempt, the ball rolled to the wall and Goff easily scored from first.

However, Erica LeFlore gave UT Arlington its first and only run of the series to leadoff the fourth, when she connected on her fifth homer of the season. The blast to right center tied the score, 1-1, and it would stay that way after seven innings.

Both teams loaded the bases without scoring a run in the extra frames. In the eighth, freshman Geena Garcia and sophomore Molly Fichtner singled before freshman Megan Low was hit by a pitch. But Mavericks pitcher Callie Collins coaxed a grounder for a force-out at home before an inning-ending fly out.

UT Arlington had its chance in the 10th when Courtney Zink started the frame on second base and Gonzalez laid down a bunt single. A two-out walk to Charne Office loaded the bags for Kelsey Kaiser, who hit a shot to the left side that was scooped up on a diving play by Goff to end the threat.

With Garcia starting the home half of the panel on second base, Kappler wasted no time in ending the contest with a leadoff double to right center. Garcia came around to score on the hit and UTSA improved to 2-1 in extra-inning games.

Staton moved to 12-5 after allowing three hits and four walks in six innings of relief, while Collins (6-11) went the distance for the Mavericks with four strikeouts in a losing effort.

UTSA will return to the diamond on Tuesday, when it travels up I-35 for a doubleheader at Texas State (29-15, 12-2 SLC). First pitch of game one is set for 5 p.m.

-UTSA-

Tags: UTSA Roadrunners