HOUSTON — UTSA scored three runs in the fifth to erase a two-run deficit and the Roadrunners ended their six-game road trip with a 3-2 victory at Houston on Wednesday evening.
Alyssa Vordenbaum (3-2) allowed just two unearned runs on four hits to help UTSA (9-7) notch its first win against the Cougars (8-5) since April 4, 2006. The Pasadena native also struck out a season-high six batters and did not issue a walk.
Siera Sproul led the offense with a pair of singles, as the Roadrunners out-hit Houston, 7-4.
The Cougars got on the board early with a pair of runs in the second.
Hayley Outon started the frame with a single to left and moved all the way to third after an error by Vivian Tijerina on Taylor Duplechain’s sacrifice bunt. Duplechain stole second to put both runners in scoring position and Houston struck first on Julia Pecina’s sacrifice fly to center and Kayla Holland’s single down the left-field line.
The Cougars maintained the lead until the top of the fifth when UTSA broke through against Summer Groholski for three runs.
Paige Hamilton was hit by a pitch with one down and Alexis Ramirez got aboard with a single to center. Groholski then retired Darian Blake on strikes before a full-count walk to Courtney Buchman loaded the bases for Megan Low. The Spring native picked up her team-leading 16th RBI of the season after being hit by a pitch and the Roadrunners cut the deficit in half. Right fielder Reina Gaber was unable to handle a fly ball off the bat of Sproul, which allowed Ramirez and Buchman to touch home plate and UTSA took the lead for good, 3-2.
The Roadrunners had a chance to add on to their edge in the sixth after putting runners on first and second with just one out, but Groholski got a fielder’s choice and strikeout to end the threat.
All told, UTSA left nine runners on base and stranded at least one in each inning but the first.
Working with the lead, Vordenbaum retired the side in order in the sixth and worked around an error to close out the game in the seventh for the win.
Groholski (3-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up all three runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk in a complete-game effort.
UTSA will host former Southland Conference foe Sam Houston State (7-10) in a three-game series that begins with a 6 p.m. tilt on Friday.