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LAKE CHARLES, La. — UTSA grabbed an early 3-0 lead onfreshman Megan Low's three-run homer in the opening inning, but McNeese Staterallied with seven runs in the final two frames for a 9-5 victory on Fridaynight at Cowgirl Diamond.
Senior Nikki Goff added a solo homer, her first of theseason, and finished with a pair of RBIs for the Roadrunners (10-13, 1-2 SLC).
Meanwhile, Alanna DiVittorio and pinch hitter Ashley Modzelewski each drove ina pair of runs for the Cowgirls (16-8, 1-0 SLC), who were playing their first Southland Conference game of the season.
UTSA got off to a quick start in the first when seniorAshley Kappler led off the game with a walk. Sophomore Molly Fichtner followedwith a line drive into right field that Marissa Koetting lost in the sun qand that set the table for Low's fourth home run of the season,which sailed well over the fence in center field.
McNeese State got a solo homer from DiVittorio in thebottom half of the stanza and Koetting went deep one inning later to cut the deficit to,3-2.
However, Goff extended the advantage to two in the fourth with a solo blast of her own.
The Cowgirls' rally continued with ClaireTerracina's run-scoring double and a bases-loaded walk from Tiffany Denham in the fifthto tie the game at four.
The Roadrunners took the lead for the final time aninning later.
Sophomore Jori Fox lined a double to right before being liftedfor pinch runner Morgan Luksa. Goff then laced a two-out single to left andLuksa slid around the tag of catcher Stacey Conley for a 5-4 advantage.
The lead did not last, as McNeese State plated five runson five hits and an error in the sixth for the final margin.
TiffanyDenham came in to pitch the seventh and retired the side in order to seal thevictory.
Junior Haylee Staton (7-3) allowed seven runs in 5.1 innings, while Meagan Bond (10-6) fanned four in six frames.
UTSA will try for the series split at 1 p.m. on Saturday.