SAN ANTONIO — Courtney Buchman hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth to lift UTSA to a 6-3 victory in game one, but Lannah Campbell pitched UAB to a 6-1 win in nightcap, as the Roadrunners and Blazers split a Saturday doubleheader at Roadrunner Field.
It was the third homer of the season for Buchman and the blast gave UTSA (24-29, 10-13 C-USA) its second win in extra innings this season. The junior’s shot, along with a two-run round-tripper in the opener by Vivian Tijerina, pushed UTSA’s Conference USA-leading total to 70.
Meanwhile, Megan McGrath and Heather Pearson each drove in three runs to lead UAB (30-24, 14-8 C-USA).
The teams will close the regular season with a 12 p.m. contest on Sunday.
Following the game, the Roadrunners will honor Darian Blake, Jori Fox, Jolene Graham and Siera Sproul as part of Senior Day festivities.
Game 1: UTSA 6, UAB 3 (8 innings)
Courtney Buchman’s three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth lifted UTSA to a 6-3 win over UAB in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Vivian Tijerina also homered for the Roadrunners, while Nicole Merrill came on in relief and worked a scoreless inning to claim the victory.
UTSA jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three innings.
In the second, Jolene Graham started the frame with a double to left center and would score two batters later on a throwing error from catcher Ashley Johnson. An inning later, Vivian Tijerina extended the lead with a two-run homer, which was her 11th blast of the spring.
However, the Blazers began to chip away at the deficit with solo homers from Heather Pearson and Hayley Davis in the fourth and fifth, respectively. UAB tied the game in the seventh with the help of a UTSA error to send the game to extra innings.
Merrill came on to relieve starter Kacy Freeze and worked around a pair of walks to send the game to the bottom of the panel still tied 3-3.
A walk, fielder’s choice and wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out when Buchman stepped to the plate. The junior took the second pitch that she saw over the wall in left for her third homer of the season, which gave the home squad a 6-3 victory.
Leigh Streetman took the loss for UAB after allowing six runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts in 7.1 frames. Freeze took a no-decision for the Roadrunners after surrendering just one earned run on six hits to go along with eight punchouts in seven frames.
Game 2; UAB 6, UTSA 1
Lannah Campbell limited UTSA to just an unearned run on three hits as UAB earned a split of Saturday’s doubleheader with a 6-3 win in game two.
Campbell allowed just one hit through the first six innings and finished the day with six strikeouts for the Blazers. Megan McGrath went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Heather Pearson drove in a pair.
Meanwhile, Nicole Merrill took the loss for the Roadrunners with five earned runs in six innings on seven hits, seven walks and six strikeouts. Jori Fox, Jolene Graham and Courtney Buchman each had hits for UTSA.
Both pitchers carried no-hitters into the fourth inning before allowing a run.
UAB got on the board first in the top of the frame on McGrath’s RBI hit. The Roadrunners knotted the score in the bottom of the panel when pinch runner Angelica Niño touched home on Danii Frenandez’s throwing error.
That would prove to be all the scoring for the home squad, who watched as the Blazers scored four in the fifth and one in the seventh for the 6-1 final.
UTSA had one last chance and got a pair of hits in the seventh, only to see Campbell get a strikeout and grounder to end the game.