JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The UTSA softball team splits games on Friday on the first day of the Jacksonville State Invite. The Roadrunners defeated Samford, 3-1, before falling to Jacksonville State, 7-14.
Game one: Samford
Three-consecutive runs in the sixth pushed the Roadrunners past the Bulldogs, 3-1.
The game started slow as both teams only had one hit through three and Erika Cortez recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.
Samford added its lone run in the top of the fourth off a single and an error.
In the bottom of the sixth, came out swinging to put runs on the board. Madison Washington reached on a catcher's interference and Kindell Brooks followed with an error. Riley Grunberg doubled down the left line to score Gabby Leggington (pinch runner) and tie the game. Taylor Medina followed behind with a ground out RBI and Brooks scored to take the lead (2-1). Closing out the hot hitting was Victoria Villarreal with a single to left as Grunberg reached home and UTSA led 3-1.
To close out the game, Cortez allowed one hit, but Roadrunner defense left the runner stranded.
Cortez improves to 4-3 on the season, pitching all seven innings with four strikeouts.
Game two: Jacksonville State
Six runs in the third helped JSU take the 14-7 victory.
The Gamecocks score early with a run in the bottom of the first from a sac fly.
In the top of the second, Riley Grunberg opened with a double to the center field wall. With one out, Victoria Villarreal singled up the middle as Grunberg scored to tie the game (1-1).
The Roadrunners added three runs in the third to take the lead. With two outs on the board, Madison Washington doubled to right field. Kindell Brooks followed with a single, then advanced to second on a throwing error as Washington reach home to lead 2-1. Grunberg was hit by a pitch and Taylor Medina doubled to score Grunberg and Brooks as UTSA led 4-1. In the bottom of the frame, the Gamecocks added six runs from six hits to take the lead, 7-4.
Lauren Coerver hit a solo home run in the fourth to close the gap to two, 5-7. JSU added four runs in the bottom of the frame to lead 11-5.
In the fifth, back-to-back singles from Grunberg and Medina opened the inning. Villarreal earned a walk as runners advanced and Coerver singled to right field as Grunberg reached home. Freshman Brittany Coe grounded out ad Medina scored to trail 7-11. A sac fly from the Gamecocks extended the lead (12-7).
JSU added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth from a sac fly and a single to capture the win.
Makenzie Carpenter falls to 4-2 on the season.
The Roadrunners return to the field tomorrow when they play Samford and Jacksonville State to close out the weekend.
-UTSA-
