May 2, 2003

NATCHITOCHES, La...Top seeded Texas-Arlington opened the 2003 Southland Conference softball championship tournament Friday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over sixth seeded Sam Houston State. With the win the Lady Mavericks advance into the winners bracket, while the Bearkats fall into the losers bracket. UTA will play the loser of No. 3 McNeese against host No. 4 Northwestern on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

Sam Houston State took an early lead in the top of the first inning this afternoon after UTA starter Katy Cox hit the first batter of the game and gave up a single to the next to put runners on first and second with no outsl. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners before designated player Chrissy Dileo hit a sacrifice fly to plate Lauren Boone and give the Bearkats a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as the Lady Mavericks answered in the bottom of the frame. Melanie Williams singled up the middle before being thrown out at second as Beverly Rowan reached on a fielders choice. Right Autumn Petrino followed with a run producing triple of the center field wall. Petrino would put UTA ahead, 2-1, as she scored as Crystal Krebs reached on an error by the Bearkat second baseman.

Sam Houston tied the score at two in the top of the seventh inning after Sara Gatlin scored on a passed ball by catcher Crystal Krebs.

Kwasnick led off the bottom of the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams. After the Bearkats intentionally walked Petrino, Krebs singled up the middle to plate the winning run as UTA edged past Sam Houston, 3-2.

Cox earned the win for the Lady Mavs improving to 24-6 on the year. Cox struck out four while being touched for three hits.

Texas-Arlington returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m., facing the loser of McNeese State and McNeese State.

...utamavericks...