SAN ANTONIO — Erika Piancastelli’s RBI single in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted visiting McNeese State to a 2-1 win over UTSA on Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.
Jade Smith went 1-for-3 and drove in the only run for the Roadrunners, who fell to 17-7 on the season. Kacy Freeze took the loss in the circle and fell to 4-2 after she allowed two runs on three hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts in five innings.
Meanwhile, Piancastelli went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs to lead the Cowgirls (17-6) to their fourth consecutive victory. Jamie Allred claimed the win with 2.1 scoreless frames, while Emily Vincent picked up the save with a shutout seventh inning.
McNeese State jumped ahead on Piancastelli’s team-leading seventh homer of the season. The solo shot to left-center field gave the visitors a 1-0 lead that would not last as UTSA knotted the score in the bottom of the panel.
Randee Crawford singled through the left side to start the inning and she was lifted for pinch-runner Lauren White. A sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice pushed White to third base with two outs and Smith drove a single to center field to tie the score.
However, the Cowgirls opened the sixth with a walk and hit that ended Freeze’s night and after reliever Kelsi Ott got a strikeout, Piancastelli bounced a single through the left side for a 2-1 lead.
UTSA had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but Allred got a pair of strikeouts to close out the victory.
The Roadrunners will be back in action March 14-15 when they host Charlotte (10-8, 0-0 C-USA) at Roadrunner Field. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.