SAN MARCOS — Courtney Buchman homered and drove in four runs to help UTSA sweep games against Grand Canyon and Texas State on Saturday during the second day of the CenturyLink Classic.
The senior hit a two-run homer in a 10-1 run-rule victory over the Antelopes (6-4) to start the day and added two more RBIs in UTSA’s 6-3 win over the Bobcats (4-5). Meanwhile, Jade Smith collected four hits for the Roadrunners (7-2) and pitchers Kacy Freeze and Chelsea Parker each picked up wins in the circle. In addition, Kendall Burton tied a school-record with a pair of triples against Texas State.
In the opener, UTSA had just one hit off Grand Canyon starter Kailey Regester until the Roadrunners broke through for four runs in the third inning.
Smith started the frame with a bunt single and Regester got a pair of fly-ball outs as she tried to get out of the inning. But Megan Low worked the count full and smacked a two-run homer to left center for a 2-0 lead. Vivian Tijerina extended the inning with a walk and Randee Crawford followed with another two-run blast to push the cushion to 4-0.
Smith started another fruitful inning with a single up the middle to open the fourth. This time it was Buchman who came through with a two-run homer that extended the lead to 6-0.
UTSA then put the game out of reach with four runs in the top of the fifth for a 10-0 edge.
With the bases loaded, Smith pushed a run across with an infield single before Burton drove in a pair with another hit. Right fielder Laynee Gomez’s error on the play allowed Smith to score all the way from first to cap the scoring.
Grand Canyon chased Freeze, who improved to 1-1 with the victory, from the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth but Chelsea Parker got the final two outs to preserve the win.
Freeze went 4.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
In the nightcap, UTSA again broke the scoreless tie in with a pair of runs in the third inning.
Burton led off the frame with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored when Buchman walked and stole second base. While trying to catch Buchman stealing, the catcher’s throw went into center field and Burton touched home for the first score of the evening.
After a fly out that moved Buchman to third, Tijerina lofted a sacrifice fly that pushed the lead to 2-0.
UTSA doubled its advantage in the fifth, when Burton tripled home Smith and scored on Buchman’s RBI grounder.
The Bobcats struck back with a run in the bottom of the frame and pulled within 4-3 with a pair of scores in the sixth.
However, Buchman and Low hit back-to-back doubles to plate two more runs in the seventh and extend the lead to 6-3.
Texas State had one last chance in the bottom of the inning and had the tying run at the plate, but Kelli Baker lined into a double play to end the game.
Parker improved to 4-0 after she allowed one run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings, while Freeze had a pair of strikeouts in 2.1 frames of relief.
UTSA will conclude tournament play on Sunday with a 10 a.m. contest against Texas Tech (4-5).