BOCA RATON, Fla. — Courtney Buchman went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks, an RBI and a run scored to help lead UTSA to a 4-0 victory at Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon at FAU Softball Stadium.
Buchman reached base in all five plate appearances for the Roadrunners (31-17, 13-7 C-USA), who pounded out 11 hits. In her eighth start of the season, Erica Sanchez had a career-high three hits in as many at-bats and drove in a run, while Kelsi Ott and Kacy Freeze combined for the squad’s fourth shutout of the spring.
UTSA left 15 runners on base, including five in the first two innings, but took a 1-0 lead in the second. A single from Sanchez, an error and a walk to Jade Smith loaded the bases with one out. Another fielder’s choice cut down a runner at home, but Buchman gave the visitors an early lead with an RBI walk on a full-count pitch.
The Owls (32-16-1, 13-7 C-USA) were able to avoid further damage and the Roadrunners left three more on base in the third. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases before Florida Atlantic went to the bullpen for Kylee Hanson.
After being shut out by Hanson on Saturday night, UTSA got an unearned run to double its lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Kendall Burton and Buchman reached with infield hits and Tijerina hit a shot to third that was mishandled. The error allowed Burton to race home for the 2-0 cushion.
The Roadrunners got to Hanson for a pair of earned runs in the sixth as they again doubled their lead.
Buchman started the inning with a walk before Tijerina singled and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases with just one out. Tess Soefje hit an infield single back to the circle to plate a run to extend the lead to 3-0. Sanchez then fouled off four pitches before she hit a run-scoring single to left field to provide the final tally.
Reliever Kacy Freeze allowed a pair of hits in the final two innings, but kept the contest scoreless and closed out the victory. Ott took the win to improve to 4-2 after she went 3.1 innings with two hits and three strikeouts, while Freeze picked up her third save with three hits and two punchouts in 3.2 frames.
UTSA will be back in action for a 6 p.m. contest on Wednesday, April 29, at No. 14 Baylor (33-12).