LAS CRUCES, N.M. — UTSA opened its 2015 season with 25 runs, including 17 with two outs, on 20 hits en route to wins against Montana and Texas Tech on Friday at the Hotel Encanto Invitational.
After leading Conference USA in home runs last season, the Roadrunners (2-0) picked up right where they left off by crushing three round-trippers en route to a 12-4 run-rule victory over the Grizzlies to start the day before hitting three more in a 13-7 win against the Red Raiders.
Kendall Burton led the way on offense, as she went 5-for-7 (.714) at the plate with four runs, one double, a triple, two homers and six RBIs. The Missouri City native homered in each game and racked up 14 total bases on the day.
Meanwhile, Randee Crawford went 4-for-7 (.571) with a homer and five RBIs and Courtney Buchman and Vivian Tijerina each drove in four runs to go along with a round-tripper. Preseason C-USA Player of the Year Megan Low homered and doubled in four at-bats and drew five walks.
Low’s walk in the bottom of the first inning helped UTSA score its first run of the campaign. Tijerina followed the bases on balls with a two-out double to left that allowed Low to cross the plate for a quick 1-0 lead over the Grizzlies (0-3).
The Roadrunners then blew the game open with a six-run second that was fueled by four hits and an error.
All six runs came with two outs and the scoring began with consecutive bases-loaded walks to Buchman, Low and Tijerina that extended the cushion to 4-0. Crawford then struck a single to left that plated a pair and Tess Soefje, who ranked third in the nation last season after being hit by a pitch 28 times, was plunked with the bases full to cap the rally.
Jade Smith led off the third by touching all of the bases on one play thanks to two errors and Low’s first homer of the season put the Roadrunners ahead, 9-0.
Burton then led off the fourth with a solo shot to left field before Montana was able to get to pitcher Nicole Merrill (1-0), who did not allow a hit through 3.2 innings.
The Grizzlies cut into the lead with four runs in the fifth to chase Merrill, but Chelsea Parker recorded what proved to be the final two outs for the Grizzlies.
In the bottom of the panel, Low worked her third walk and was able to trot around the bases on Tijerina’s two-run homer that capped off the 12-4 walk-off win.
Merrill picked up the victory in the circle with four runs on four hits and three walks allowed to go along with four strikeouts in 4.1 frames.
UTSA did not trail in the opener, but found itself in a 4-0 hole after an inning against the Red Raiders (2-1).
However, the Roadrunners put together another two-out, six-run frame in the second to regain the lead.
Madison Kinley drove in the first run for UTSA with a single down the left-field line to plate Tijerina and Burton’s double allowed a pair to score. Buchman then delivered the big blow of the rally with a three-run homer to left that gave the Roadrunners a 6-4 advantage.
Texas Tech knotted the score with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but UTSA regained the lead for good with two scores of its own in the third.
With two down in the inning Smith coaxed a walk before Burton lined a triple to center field and was able to race home thanks to an error.
The Red Raiders countered with another run to pull within 8-7, but it would get no closer.
The Roadrunners put the game out of reach as Crawford blasted a two-run homer in the fourth and plated another with a single in the fifth. Burton then put an exclamation point on UTSA’s second win over a Big 12 team in as many seasons with a two-run homer in the sixth.
Parker came on in relief again and allowed just two hits and a walk in four scoreless innings to pick up her first win of the season.
UTSA will continue tournament play on Saturday when it will face host New Mexico State (1-1) at 5 p.m. (CT) and Colorado State (0-1) two hours later.