BOCA RATON, Fla. — Florida Atlantic turned five UTSA errors into four unearned runs to edge the Roadrunners in both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 3-2 and 1-0 on Saturday night at FAU Softball Stadium.
Nicole Merrill allowed an unearned run and just two hits in game two for the Roadrunners (30-17, 12-7 C-USA), while Kacy Freeze scattered six hits and did not allow an earned run in the opener. At the plate, Megan Low and Kendall Burton each collected a pair of hits, including a double apiece.
For the Owls (32-15-1, 13-6 C-USA), reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Kylee Hanson was the difference as she totaled 17 strikeouts en route to a win and a save. In game two, the sophomore totaled 15 strikeouts to improve to 14-3 on the campaign.
UTSA jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning of the opener.
Jade Smith reached on an error before Burton lined a single to right field. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners and Florida Atlantic elected to intentionally walk Low to load the bases. Vivian Tijerina ran the count full before she grounded a single through the left side that plated Smith and Burton for the early lead.
However, a pair of errors led to two unearned runs for the Owls in the bottom of the frame, and the home squad would take the lead following an error and wild pitch in the fourth.
UTSA got hits from Smith and Courtney Buchman to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out in the top of the seventh. But Hanson came on to get a pair of strikeouts to end the game and pick up her first save of the campaign.
Burton led off the second game with a double to left-center field only to see Hanson strikeout the next six batters. The Roadrunners would not get another hit until Low’s infield single in the sixth.
The Owls stranded five runners on base through three hit-less innings, but broke through with a run in the fourth.
A walk and passed ball put Tatum Buckley on second with one out. A deep fly out pushed Buckley to third base and she scored on Lindsey Shell’s infield single for the game’s only run.
UTSA had a base runner in each of the final three innings, but could not come up with the equalizer in the 1-0 loss.
The Roadrunners will close the series at noon (CT) on Sunday.