By: Robbie Kleinmuntz, Softball SID
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas – Making her first start of the season, sophomore Sara Aasness pitched lights-out as the Northwestern State softball team topped Texas-Arlington, 2-0 on a home run by Brianna Rodriguez Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.
Aasness (1-1) threw 5.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win for NSU (17-24, 5-9 SLC). Brooke Boening came in and tossed 1.1 shutout frames of relief against the Mavs (13-19, 3-7 SLC) and earned her second save of the season.
It was the fourth shutout in the last five games for the Lady Demons, who have let up just one earned run in the last 36 innings.
At the plate, Rodriguez provided all the offense NSU would need with a two-run homer in the second inning. The frame started when Samantha Roberts drew a walk, and Rodriguez powered a no-out homer to leftfield. Rodriguez also singled to rightfield in the sixth inning to record her sixth multi-hit game of the year.
The Lady Demons turned their first triple-play of the season in the first inning, 6-3-2-5-3-3.
With runners on first and third, UTA's Hillary Steed grounded out to shortstop. First baseman Rodriguez stepped on the bag and threw to home-plate to try and stop Courtney Zink, who originally hesitated, from scoring. As the ball beat Zink to the dish, she held up and was caught in a pickle. Stephanie Gonzalez, who started the at-bat as the runner on first, advanced all the way to third as NSU was tossing the ball back and forth to try to get the runner out in the rundown. When Zink retreated back to third, Gonzalez was already occupying the bag – as both runners were standing on third, Rodriguez tagged Zink and she was called out. Gonzalez thought the umpire called her out, stepped off the bag and was also tagged out.
Callie Collins (6-10) took the loss for UTA after striking out five batters in 4.2 innings. She surrendered two runs on two hits and a pair of walks. Teri Lyles threw 2.1 innings of relief and allowed just one hit.
NSU will be back in action on Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader at Alcorn State beginning at 2.
