CORPUS CHRISTI — Texas A&M-Corpus Christi used three big innings and scored seven runs with two outs en route to a 9-6 victory against UTSA in Wednesday's series finale at Chapman Field.
The Roadrunners (2-12, 0-3 SLC) struck first in the opening frame when senior Carrie Monroe reached on an infield single and scored on freshman Molly Fichtner’s double to right center two batters later.
However, the Islanders (13-5, 3-0) scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi produced five consecutive singles up the middle with two down to plate Caley Jeter, Kacie Smith and Lauren Dodson for a 3-1 advantage.
The Islanders tacked on two more in the third to extend the margin to 5-1.
After a leadoff single and walk, senior Emily Humpal relieved junior Morgan Luksa and recorded an out before surrendering a two-run double down the left-field line.
Junior Nikki Goff cut the deficit in half with a two-run home run in the fourth. Sophomore Haylee Staton drew a four-pitch walk with one out before Goff took Jordan Trujillo’s 1-1 offering over the wall in left for her second career homer.
A&M-Corpus Christi got those runs back, and then some, in the fourth with two outs to blow the game open.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Brittany Tucker, who cleared them with a two-bagger to left center. Laura Phillips followed with a double, which pushed the Islanders' lead to a half dozen (9-3).
The Roadrunners responded with a rally of their own against reliever Constance Brandenburg in the fifth.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for senior Kristin Kappler, who produced a run with an RBI ground out. Staton followed with a two-run single that pulled UTSA within three, 9-6.
However, that would be closest the Roadrunners would get the rest of the way, as Trujillo re-entered the game for the final seven outs.
Luksa (1-5) allowed five runs in two innings, while Trujillo (7-2) surrendered three and struck out nine in 6.1 panels.
UTSA is scheduled to play at home for the first time this season when it hosts Northwestern State (15-6, 3-0 SLC) in a three-game series this weekend. The set opens with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
