RUSTON, La. — No. 6 UT Arlington scored an unearned run in the first and added another score in the sixth to defeat fifth-seeded UTSA by a score of 2-0 in the fifth game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday morning. The contest began, which began at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, was suspended after six innings of play due to inclement weather.
Megan Low went 2-for-3 with her 13th double of the season to lead the Roadrunners, who saw their season come to an end with a 27-26 overall record. Haylee Staton (15-11) took the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits to go along with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Nina Villanueva went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Mavericks (25-27) to help back a strong start from Teri Lyles (21-12) in the circle. Lyles surrendered just three hits and walked just one while striking out four.
Britnea Barilli led off the game with a double down the right-field line and came around to score a batter later on a throwing error. UT Arlington tacked on a run in the sixth when Barilli opened the frame with a walk and touched home following Villanueva’s two-bagger to right center.
UTSA’s best scoring opportunity came in the fourth after Low doubled to right center to lead off the stanza. She was lifted for pinch runner Alexis Ramirez, who advanced to third with two outs before Lyles ended the threat with a strikeout.
Just before the Mavericks came to bat in the top of the seventh, the game was suspended due to lightning and rain and suspended until 10 a.m. on Friday.
UTA got an infield single in its half of the seventh, but it was unable to add to the lead.
The Roadrunners had one last chance in the bottom of the panel and saw Lyles walk Jolene Graham on four pitches to get start the inning. However, she then got a strikeout and game-ending double play to clinch the victory and allow the Mavericks advance.
Staton was named to the All-Tournament Team after posting an 0.69 ERA with 14 strikeouts in working all 20.1 innings for UTSA.