SAN ANTONIO – The Roadrunners and the Cougars split the doubleheader Thursday afternoon. BYU won the first game 6-0 and UTSA took the second 4-1.
The Roadrunners improve to 16-15 (6-3 C-USA) on the season, while BYU improves to 13-16.
Game 1
Two home runs and six other hits pushed the Cougars past the Roadrunners in game one.
BYU was on the board early with a home run to left center from Ashley Godfrey in the top of the first.
In the top of the second Olivia Sanchez hit a solo home run to left field as the Cougars took a 2-0 lead.
Paige Pacher opened the third with a single up the middle. With one out, Bailee Baldwin hit a single to left field. Kindell Brooks was walked, but a strikeout and a ground out kept the Roadrunners from scoring.
Libby Sugg singled to left field in the top of the fourth. Ari Paulson reached on a fielder's choice and Sugg thrown out at second. With an out on the board, Sanchez hit a double to right field as Paulson scored. Martha Epensa reached first on an error as Sanchez scored. The Cougars led 4-0 after the fourth.
BYU put up two more runs in the fifth. Rylee Jensen singled to right center and Ashley Godfrey followed with a sac bunt to advance Jensen to second. Taylei Williams reached first and second on an error as Jensen scored. A single from Sugg put the second run on the board. The Cougars led 6-0 going to the seventh.
UTSA posted three hits and two errors, while BYU had eight hits.
Game 2
The Roadrunners claimed game two with eight hits and four strikeouts from the circle.
Clarissa Hernandez opened the game pitching a 1-2-3 inning. With one out on the board, Bailee Baldwin hit a double to right field to reach scoring position. Kindell Brooks followed with a double down the left field line, scoring Baldwin. Madison Washington singled up the middle as Brooks advanced. Riley Grunberg reached on a fielder's choice while Washington moved to second and Brooks scored. Kaitlin Lopez also reached on a fielder's choice as Washington was tagged out at third. The Roadrunners led 2-0 after the first.
In the third inning, the Roadrunners left two on. Brooks singled to shortstop and Washington reached on a throwing error as Brooks advanced to second. Grunberg reached on a fielder's choice, Washington moved to second and Brooks was thrown out at third. A fly out and a ground out ended the inning.
The Cougars had a run in the top of the sixth. Brooke Vander Heide hit a bunt single with one out. Jensen hit a double to the right center fence as Vander Heide advanced to third. Godfrey reached first and second on a fielder's choice as Jensen was tagged out at third and Vander Heide scored. The Roadrunners followed with two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Victoria Villarreal singled to center field and Lopez struck out swinging. Brycen Blinco hit a single past the shortstop as runners advanced. Celeste Loughman hit a singled as Blinco and Hannah Boring (pinch runner) scored.
UTSA posted eight hits with one error, while BYU had three hits and an error.
Clarissa Hernandez picked up her seventh win of the season with four strikeouts and allowing just three hits and one run.
The Roadrunners return to action this weekend when they host Louisiana Tech for a three-game series.
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