April 6, 2003

SAN MARCOS, Texas... Southwest Texas State scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and withstood a seventh inning rally to defeat The University of Texas at Arlington 4-3 in a Southland Conference softball game Sunday in San Marcos. The win kept UTA from completing a sweep in the three game series between the SLC's top two teams.

Southwest Texas (31-13-1 overall, 10-4-1 SLC) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Rachael Bonetti and a bases loaded walk issued to Katie Ann Trahan. That score held until the top of the fourth, when UTA's Jenna Fortune singled home Falon Kwasnick, who reached base on an error to open the innnig, cutting SWT's lead to 2-1. The Lady Mavericks (26-13, 16-2) tied the score in the next inning, when Melanie Williams' two-out single scored Jessica Carriger, who, like Kwasnick in the previous inning, reached base on an error.

The Bobcats would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Ashley Koop drew a one-out walk and scored when Kristen Zaleski tripled to left center field, which game SWT a 3-2 advantage. Zeleski then scored on another RBI single by Bonetti, making the score 4-2 in favor of UTA.

After both teams failed to scored in the sixth inning, UTA went to work in the top of the seventh. Jennifer English led off with a walk and then left the game as April Jones was used as a pinch runner in place of English. Ali Lommel, who's two run home run in the top of the seventh inning gave UTA a victory in the first game of the series Saturday, used a different approach Sunday, delivering a bunt single that moved Jones to second base. After Kwasnick fanned for the first out of the inning, Williams struck again with an RBI single to left field that scored Jones. On the same play, Lommel went to third on a fielding error by SWT left fielder Bonetti, while Williams went to second on the same play, giving UTA runners at second and third with just one out. But Southwest Texas ace Nicole Neuerburg settled down at that point, getting Fortune to watch a called third strike and Beverly Rowan to pop up to third base to end the game.

Williams was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the game for UTA, while leadoff hitter Kwasnick was 2-for-4 with a run scored. The Lady Mavericks had nine hits as a team, two more than the Bobcats.

Neuerburg earned the victory to improve to 21-6 overall. She allowed just one earned run on nine hits and two walks, while striking out 10 UTA batters.

Katy Cox took the loss for the Lady Mavericks, dropping her record to 19-5 in 2003. Cox allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in six innings of work.

The Lady Mavericks return to action this Wednesday, April 9, when they welcome the Centenary Ladies to Arlington for a 4 p.m. double header.