LUBBOCK — Angelica Niño had two hits in both games today, but UTSA dropped its first two games of the Texas Tech Invitational on Friday. Stephen F. Austin took a 7-3 win before McNeese State dropped the Roadrunners 11-6.
Kendall Burton combined for three hits and a pair of RBIs for UTSA, which fell to 6-12 on the season. Madison Kinley had a pair of hits and a double in her return to action and Taylor Oberg added a triple.
In the opener, the Ladyjacks (6-11) jumped ahead with a run in the top of the second, but the Roadrunners responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Niño lined an RBI-single up the middle to plate Kinley at knot the score. Jade Smith followed with a hit and Burton smashed a two-RBI single to left for the 3-1 advantage.
However, Stephen F. Austin took the lead for good with a four-run third inning and two more runs in the fourth for the 7-3 cushion.
In the second game of the day, McNeese State used a nine-run second inning to take control and the Cowgirls held on for the 11-6 triumph.
After the 9-0 start, the Roadrunners more than sliced the deficit in half with five runs in the fourth.
The rally started with Kinley’s run-scoring double to left and two more runs came around to score on the second triple of Oberg’s career. Following a walk to Smith, a double steal plated another run and Niño capped the inning with an RBI double to left.
However, UTSA could get no closer than four runs as McNeese State added another run in the fifth and answered a Roadrunners run in the sixth with one of its own to claim the 11-6 final.
UTSA will continue tournament play on Saturday when it will face Stephen F. Austin again at 3 p.m. and Ohio at 8 p.m.