UTSA to host Louisiana Tech in inaugural Conference USA series this weekend

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will host Louisiana Tech in a three-game series to open Conference USA play this weekend at Roadrunner Field. The Roadrunners and Lady Techsters will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday before closing the series at noon the following afternoon.

UTSA (8-12) is coming off a weekend of tough competition at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic. The Roadrunners, who faced three ranked squads and another that was undefeated, closed the event last Sunday with a narrow 2-1 loss to No. 12 Baylor. The offense is led by junior Megan Low, who is batting .352 with a league-leading nine home runs and 20 RBIs. Senior Jori Fox is second on the team with 13 RBIs to go along with two homers. In the circle, Nicole Merrill paces the pitching staff with a 3.35 ERA and a 3-4 record. Kacy Freeze leads the team with four wins and 47 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech (8-12) comes to the Alamo City to wrap up a 13-game road stretch. The Lady Techsters dropped a pair of games this week at No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 12 Baylor before making the trek to San Antonio. Kristen Miles leads the way for Louisiana Tech with 20 hits, a .357 batting average and 15 runs scored. The squad, which is hitting .262, features three players batting better than .300. In the circle, Pauline Tufi has a 3.40 ERA, 39 strikeouts and a 5-1 mark, but has logged just one start. Bianca Duran has started 17 games and owns a 4.01 ERA and 3-8 record.

UTSA leads the all-time series against Louisiana Tech, 9-2, but the teams have yet to square off in San Antonio. Last season, the Roadrunners took two of three games against the Lady Techsters in Ruston, La.