· Box score
· North Texas/UC Riverside box score
· Photo gallery
SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team fell in its home opener to UC Riverside, 7-6, in eight innings on Friday night in the first day of action of the UTSA Invitational at Roadrunner Field.
With the loss, The Roadrunners fell to 2-9 on the season, while the Highlanders improved to 3-7 after gaining a split of their first two games at the tournament (L, 9-1, to North Texas).
Deadlocked at 3-3 and with the international tiebreaker rule in effect (last out of previous inning placed on second base), the Highlanders plated the decisive fours runs in the top of the eighth behind run-scoring singles from Brooke Hebenton and Ariel Shore.
UTSA responded with three runs in the bottom half of the eighth, but the rally was cut short as junior pinch-hitter Emily Humpal was gunned down at second by outfielder Kayla White while trying to stretch a two-out, two-run single to right field.
Both starting pitchers cruised through the first four innings of play, giving up only four total hits before UCR scored the first three runs in the top of the fifth. The Highlanders collected their first run off a throwing error by Holmes as Brooke Hebenton scored from second, followed by infielder Taylor Thomas who drove in two more off a two-out single down the right field line.
The Runners cut the lead down to a single run in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Caitlyn Ivy plated two runners with a single to left center. UTSA then evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth behind Kristen Kappler’s lead off home run to right field, her third of the season.
For the Roadrunners, sophomore Morgan Luksa picked up the loss in one inning of work to drop her record to 1-3. UCR’s Marissa Alvidrez improved to 3-3 on the season after eight innings of work. UTSA starting pitcher Dayne Holmes pitched seven innings in a no decision, surrendering three runs and striking out two batters.
UTSA will look to bounce back on Saturday as the second day of action at the UTSA Invitational resumes. The Roadrunners will play UC Riverside in a rematch at 11 a.m. followed by a meeting with North Texas at 1 p.m. UC Riverside and North Texas will then conclude play on day two with first pitch scheduled at 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
