RUSTON, La. — Zoe Bacon's pinch-hit two-run homer in the sixth backed another strong start from Lizzy Fox as UTSA rallied to defeat Louisiana Tech, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Lady Techsters Softball Complex.
A day after throwing a school-record 13.0 innings in what was the longest game in program history, Fox needed just 76 pitches to strike out three and earn her eighth win of the season for the Roadrunners (17-27, 9-9 C-USA). Kendall Burton and Randee Crawford each went 2-for-3 to help pace the offense, which also got a boost from Bacon's third pinch-hit homer of the season.
The Lady Techsters (23-16, 5-7 C-USA) got on the board in the bottom of the first when Morgan Turkoly singled up the middle to score Kristen Miles with two outs.
Fox would recover and scatter just two hits over the final six innings and she did not allow a runner to advance past second base.
The UTSA offense stranded four runners in the first two innings. Madison Kinley nearly gave the visitors a lead in the top of the second as she crushed a pitch the opposite way to right field with the bases loaded. However, right fielder Tori Charters robbed Kinley of extra bases with a catch while crashing against the right-field wall.
UTSA finally broke through an inning later. Burton and Crawford each reached base to start the frame with a walk and hit-by-pitch. Tess Soefje also was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Kaley Pyles pushed across a run with a free pass to tie score, 1-1.
The walk chased Louisiana Tech starter Carolina Sanchez from the contest and game one starter Bailey Allen ended the rally before tossing scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth.
However, UTSA took the lead for good in the top of the sixth on Bacon's blast that cleared the wall in left-center field for a 3-1 lead. Hailey Garza reached base on an error before the homer, which came with two outs.
Working with the lead for the first time all day, Fox made quick work of the Lady Techsters in the sixth and the sophomore retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the win and pull the Roadrunners to .500 at 9-9 in Conference USA action.
In all, Fox tossed 20 innings during the weekend and she allowed four runs on 12 hits while striking out eight.
UTSA will be back in action at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, when it will host Incarnate Word (14-26) at Roadrunner Field.
