Box Score

HAMMOND – UTSA third baseman Caitlin Ivy broke a scoreless tie with a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth inning, allowing the Roadrunners to earn a 1-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the rubber game of a Southland Conference softball series Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.

Southeastern fell to 10-17 overall and 1-11 in Southland Conference play. UTSA ran its record to 14-13 overall and 9-6 in league action.

Both teams received masterful pitching performances on Sunday. Southeastern junior starter Catherine Gunther did not allow a hit in 2.1 innings of work. Freshman reliever Katelyn Thomason (3-3), who threw a complete-game one-hitter in Saturday's 2-1 Lady Lion win, scattered four hits in 4.2 innings of relief. UTSA's Emily Humpal (8-6) held Southeastern to two hits and struck out seven in a complete-game effort.

The most telling statistic for the Lady Lions was the six runners that they left on base. Southeastern loaded the bases in the second and sixth innings, but could not scratch out a run.

“We can't ask for a better effort than Cat and Katelyn gave us in the circle, not only today but all weekend,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “The bottom line is that we can't waste scoring opportunities and have to be more productive in clutch situations.”

Southeastern mounted the game's first threat in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Meghan Gomez led off the inning with a double. Senior Allyson McCubbins and freshman Lauren Coniglio both drew walks later in the inning to load the bases with two outs. Humpal kept Southeastern off the board, striking out junior Amber Freeman to end the inning.

UTSA managed a threat of its own in the top of the third inning. Humpal and Kelly Cato both drew walks to give the Roadrunners runners at first and second with one out. Thomason replaced Gunther, retiring Rudi Cantu and Ashley Kappler to end the inning.

UTSA was hitless until the top of the fifth inning. Ivy turned on an outside pitch and hit an opposite field home run over the left centerfield fence to give UTSA a 1-0 lead.

Southeastern wouldn't go down without a fight, however, attempting to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore Tamra Ladnier started the threat, drawing a one-out walk. Senior Heather Sherrill followed with a single to left to give Southeastern runners at first and second.

After Humpal struck out Gomez, sophomore Katie Duhe hit a grounder to short that Cato booted to load the bases. Humpal was able to leave the bases full, forcing McCubbins to ground out to end the ending. Humpal retired Southeastern in order in the seventh to secure the shutout.

Southeastern will be back in action on Tuesday, facing non-conference opponent South Alabama at 6 p.m. in Mobile, Ala.