SAN ANTONIO – Junior Bailee Baldwin smashed her 19th home run of the season to lift UTSA to a 4-3 win over Florida Atlantic on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
Down one run in the home half of the first inning, UTSA utilized singles from sophomore Celeste Loughman and Baldwin, and a walk to load the bases. Looking to stall UTSA's momentum, FAU brought Tatum Buckley into the circle, but the Roadrunners went unfazed as Loughman sprinted home on a wild pitch to tie the game, 1-1.
Convincing defense from both teams kept the score knotted at one apiece through the next four innings.
FAU broke the silence in the top of the fifth as the Owls drove in their second run off a sacrifice hit to center field.
With the Owls leading 2-1, a double from Jolie Duffner plated an insurance run in the top of the six for FAU.
Retiring in order in the sixth frame, UTSA was down to its last chance in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Hailey Garza opened the frame with a walk while Loughman reached base on an FAU fielding error, before Conference USA home run leader Baldwin stepped up to the plate.
After going 2-2, Baldwin's bat lit up for a three-run long ball over the center field fence to capture UTSA's 4-3 season finale win. The outfielder's team-leading 19 home runs tie former Roadrunners Randee Crawford, Amanda Horton, and Amanda Michalsky for the fourth most home runs in a single season in UTSA program history.
Overall, Baldwin went 3-for-4 to guide UTSA at the plate.
In the circle, senior Lizzy Fox pitched a complete seven-inning game to close out her collegiate career with her 13th win of the 2018 season.
