SAN ANTONIO — UTSA rebounded from a 3-1 setback in game one to score a 7-4 victory and split a Conference USA double header against Southern Miss on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
Kendall Burton led the Roadrunners (14-24, 8-6 C-USA) with two hits, including a three-run homer, to go along with a pair of outfield assists on the day. Tess Soefje and Randee Crawford also finished with a pair of hits, while Chelsea Parker and Lizzy Fox earned a win and save, respectively, in the circle.
In game two, UTSA took control early with six runs in the second and another in the third for a 7-0 lead over the Golden Eagles (19-22, 6-8 C-USA).
Soefje started the rally with a stand-up double to the gap in right- center field before a fielder's choice and an error put runners on the corners with no outs. Erica Sanchez then plated the first run with an RBI single to left-center.
Two batters later, another error allowed a run to score and put a pair of runners on base for Burton, who rocketed a three-run homer over the wall in right-center field for a 5-0 cushion. The blast was her second of the week after she also homered in Wednesday's matchup against Texas.
Crawford followed with a solo shot of her own, for her team-high 10th round-tripper of the year, on a line drive that cleared the wall in center field. The back-to-back homers provided the last of six unearned runs in the inning.
The advantage grew to 7-0 in the third after Zoe Bacon singled to center before she was lifted for pinch runner Bailee Baldwin. Baldwin quickly stole second base and came around to score on a two-out RBI hit to right-center by Alyssa Cummings.
Parker allowed just one Southern Miss hit through the first five innings before running into trouble in the top of the sixth.
The Golden Eagles scored four runs on seven hits in the frame and Fox came in to get the final out and leave three runners left on base.
Southern Miss got a two-out hit in the top of the seventh, but Burton notched her second outfield assist of the game when Katie Cleary tried to stretch her single into a double. The out at second ended the game and helped preserve the 7-4 win.
Parker improved to 5-10 on the season with the victory, while Fox collected her team-leading third save of the campaign.
In the opener, Southern Miss rode an impressive start from Samantha Robles to earn a 3-1 triumph.
Jade Smith opened the bottom of the first with a bunt single to extend her hitting streak to 16 games, but Robles would go on to retire the next 20 batters that she faced.
With the UTSA offense being held in check, Southern Miss finally broke through with a run in the fifth before Lauren Holifield's two-run homer in the sixth extended the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the seventh, Chelsea Thomas broke up the shutout with a solo homer to center. The blast was her third of the season and her first since Feb. 19, but Robles prevented any further damage and closed out the 3-1 final.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
