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EL PASO — UTSA pounded out 20 hits in a 15-3 run-rule victory against host UTEP after dropping Friday's UTEP Invitational opener to Brown (10-5) at Helen of Troy Field.
Senior Alaina Byars led the Roadrunners (6-9), whose 20 hits against the Miners were the most since a school-record 28 against Texas Southern on April 8, 2004, by going 3-for-4 with five RBIs in the afternoon contest. Eight players recorded at least two hits, while seven players contributed at least one RBI in the win.
UTSA jumped out to a 13-2 lead with three runs in the first, six in the second and four in the third.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the first, Byars plated senior Ashley Kappler and sophomore Molly Fichtner with a single up the middle. Fellow senior Caitlyn Ivy came around to score when junior Haylee Staton followed with another hit.
UTEP (4-11) answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, but the Roadrunners took control with a six-run second. The inning started with three consecutive hits, including a double by freshman Geena Garcia and a Kappler run-scoring single, before a fielder’s choice and walk set up Byars with another bases-loaded opportunity. The Deer Park native came through with a base hit and that was followed by a sacrifice fly for a 7-1 lead. Senior Nikki Goff capped the frame with a two-run double to left.
UTSA added four runs in the third on RBI hits by Ivy, Byars and freshman Courtney Buchman, before a run-scoring triple by Goff and RBI single from Garcia in the fifth.
Staton (3-1) struck out eight in going the distance.
Brown (1-0) scored nine runs in the first three innings in the opener en route to a 10-5 win.
The Bears scored two runs in the first, three in the second and four in the third for an early 9-0 advantage.
UTSA got on the board in the fifth on Fichtner’s sacrifice fly to left. Ivy hit a two-run home run to left-center two batters later to pull the Birds within six at 9-3.
The rally continued an inning later when Buchman scored on Goff’s double to left. A single and passed ball later scored Goff, but Brown tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame for the final five-run difference.
Junior Alyssa Vordenbaum (2-4) gave up five runs in two innings, while Jessica Cherness (1-0) allowed five runs (one earned) in 5.1 panels.
UTSA will continue tournament play on Saturday when it faces Iowa State at 10:30 a.m. and Valparaiso nine hours later.