BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two singles and a double in the top of the seventh advanced UTSA to the second round of the Air Force Reserve Softball Championship with a 4-2 victory over No. 5 seed Southern Miss.
Celeste Loughman and Bailee Baldwin opened the game with back-to-back singles to right field, but a strikeout, a fly out and a fielder's choice kept them from reaching home. Destini Brown had a solo home run to left field for the Golden Eagles to put them on the board. Three ground outs followed as USM led 1-0 after the first.
In the bottom of the third, Brown singled to shortstop, then stole second to reach scoring position. Karley Nichols followed with a single to second, then stole second as Brown advanced to third. Sumerlin doubled as Brown scored, increasing the lead to two.
The Roadrunners tied up the game in the top of the fifth. Elexus Trenkle singled down the left line, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Hannah Boring. Loughman was walked and Baldwin singled up the middle, loading the bases. Madison Washington singled to left field, then advanced to second on the throw as Baldwin advanced to third and Trenkle and Loughman scored.
In the top of the seventh, Loughman singled to right field with one out on the board. Baldwin hit the back, center wall for an RBI double, scoring Loughman as the Roadrunners took the lead. Washington grounded out as Baldwin advanced to third. Victoria Villarreal singled to left field as Baldwin scored. UTSA led 4-2 going to the bottom of the frame. Rayner hit a single to right field with one out, but a popup and a ground out ended the game and clinched the win for the Roadrunners.
No. 8 UTSA will face No. 4 Marshall at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
