LUBBOCK — UTSA scored three runs in the top of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate, but Texas Tech was able to hold on for a 6-4 victory on Sunday in the final game of the Texas Tech Invitational.
Kaley Pyles, Jade Smith and Kendall Burton recorded two hits apiece to lead the Roadrunners (6-15). In the circle, Lizzy Fox allowed just two earned runs and struck out a pair in 4.1 innings of work.
The Red Raiders (10-12) got on the board first with runs in the second and third inning for a 2-0 lead, but UTSA sliced the deficit in half in the top of the fifth. Hits by Angelica Niño and Jade Smith followed by a fielder’s choice loaded the bases. Texas Tech nearly got out of the inning with an out at home and a flyout, but Pyles coaxed a walk to trim the Red Raiders lead to 2-1.
However, the home squad struck back in the bottom of the frame with four runs that were aided by a pair of errors to extend the advantage to 6-1.
UTSA did not go away and mounted one final rally in the top of the seventh.
Smith, Burton and Randee Crawford opened the inning with singles to load the bases and chase starting pitcher Dominique Alcocer from the game. Reliever Mattison Maisel yielded an RBI grounder to pinch-hitter Alyssa Cummings before Pyles lined a run-scoring single to center field to make it 6-3.
A wild pitch brought home another run, but UTSA would get no closer as Maisel got a grounder to end the contest.
The Roadrunners will be back in action for a midweek contest at another Big 12 Conference foe when it travels to Austin for a matchup with No. 24 Texas (14-3) at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8.