OXFORD, Miss. — Bailee Baldwin and Kaley Pyles each had a pair of hits on the day, but UTSA dropped a 7-1 decision to Northern Iowa before a 3-1 setback to Stephen F. Austin on the opening day of the Ole Miss Classic.
Both of Pyles’ hits, including her first double of the campaign, came against the Ladyjacks (4-7) for a new single-game high. Meanwhile, Lizzy Fox set a new career-best with six strikeouts in the second game of the day.
In the opener, Northern Iowa (9-3) used a five-run sixth inning to break open a close game en route to its six-run triumph.
After being held without a hit in the first two innings, the Panthers started the third inning with a pair of singles and those batters would come around to score on another hit and sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
UTSA sliced that deficit in half thanks to the speed of Baldwin and a Northern Iowa error.
Baldwin started the inning with an infield single to first base and she moved to scoring position when Tess Soefje was hit by a pitch. Chelsea Thomas then reached on a fielder’s choice and Baldwin raced home. The throw from shortstop Caitlin Wneck was wild and Baldwin touched the plate to make it 2-1.
However, that would be as close as the Roadrunners would get as Northern Iowa scored five runs on the strength of four hits and an error to cruise to the 7-1 final.
UTSA jumped ahead in the top of the second against Stephen F. Austin. Pyles led off the inning with a double and stayed there until Angelica Niño lined an RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 advantage.
However, the lead would not last, as the Ladyjacks got a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
Stephen F. Austin also picked up an insurance run in the fourth for a 3-1 lead and UTSA would get no closer.
The Roadrunners will continue play in the event on Saturday when they face host Ole Miss (9-3) at 1:30 p.m. followed by one more game with the start of bracket play.