COLLEGE STATION — UTSA split a pair of games on Friday during the opening day of the Texas A&M Invitational with a 7-0 loss to Illinois State before an 11-2 run-rule victory in five innings against Boston at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Tess Soefje slugged a pair of home runs and drove in four runs, while Randee Crawford hit a grand slam to lead the Roadrunners (13-5). In addition, Vivian Tijerina and Courtney Buchman added three hits apiece and each drove in at least one run.
After struggling on offense in the first game, UTSA put up a four-spot in the top of the first against the Terriers (0-6). Kendall Burton and Buchman opened the contest with a pair of infield singles before a double play threatened to end the rally. However, Tijerina lined a double to left-center field to plate a run and Crawford singled to set the stage for Soefje, who knocked a three-run shot over the wall for a 4-0 cushion.
Boston got a pair of runs back in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run double from Mandy Fernandez, but that would be all the offense it would get against UTSA starter Kacy Freeze.
Buchman’s RBI double in the second and a solo homer from Soefje pushed the lead back to 6-2 before the Roadrunners put the game away with five runs in the top of the fourth.
Jade Smith started the big inning with a single up the middle and she would score two batters later on Buchman’s hit to center. Megan Low then walked to load the bases and Crawford fouled off four pitches with a full count before she gave UTSA an 11-2 advantage with the third grand slam of her career.
That was more than enough for Freeze, who improved to 3-1 after she allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts. The junior retired the side in the bottom of the fifth to seal the Roadrunners’ fifth five-inning run-rule win of the campaign.
In the opener, UTSA was held to just three hits by Redbirds (7-9) starter Regan Romshek.
Illinois State jumped ahead 4-0 through two innings and added two in the fourth and another in the sixth for the 7-0 victory. Stephanie Gallant led the way at the plate for the designated home team as she went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Nicole Merrill took the loss for the Roadrunners and she fell to 4-2 after she allowed three runs on a hit and four walks in 1.1 innings.
UTSA will continue tournaent play on Saturday with contests against Illinois State (10 a.m.) and Boston (12:15 p.m.).