BEAUMONT, Texas – The Roadrunners opened the 2021 season 2-0 after sweeping Lamar in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Game one
Celeste Loughman and Riley Grunberg each had a multi-run homer to help the Roadrunners defeat the Cardinals 7-1 in game one.
In the second inning, Julia Bumford opened with a single to left field and Kat Ibarra followed with a single as well. With two outs, Celeste Loughman earned a walk to load the bases. Riley Grunberg singled over the third baseman's head as Bumford and Ibarra scored to lead 2-0.
The Roadrunners added three more runs in the fourth. Ibarra hit another single to left field and Loughman earned a walk as Ibarra advanced. Grunberg homered to left field to increase the score to 5-0. Following the home run, Taylor Medina singled to shortstop, Kindell Brooks walked and Bumford reached on a fielder's choice. A flyout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals had a solo home run to left center to get on the board (5-1).
Closing out the game, Ibarra earned a walk with two outs in the seventh. Loughman homered to left center to score two more runs for the Roadrunners and lead 7-1.
Clarissa Hernandez opened the season 1-0 after pitching all seven inning with two hits and eight strikeouts.
UTSA posted 11 hits on the game.
Game two
Three home runs from the Roadrunners pushed them past the Cardinals 11-2 in five innings.
Celeste Loughman started the second game with a double to left center to reach scoring position. Riley Grunberg followed with a single to left field as Loughman reached home to put UTSA on the board (1-0).
In the second, Lauren Coerver hit a solo home run to left field to increase the lead to 2-0. Kat Ibarra and Loughman each singled in the inning, but couldn't reach home.
The Roadrunners scored three more runs in the third to push the lead. Madison Washington opened with a single up the middle. Julia Bumford singled down the right line as Washington advanced to scoring position and Coerver followed with a fielder's choice. With two outs, Brittany Coe reached on a fielder's choice as runners advanced and Bumford scored (3-0). Ibarra singled through the left side to score Coerver as the Roadrunners led 4-0. In the bottom of the frame, Lamar scored two runs to get on the board (4-2).
In the fifth, UTSA added seven runs to garner the game. Coerver started the inning off with a double to center. Coe homered to center field for her first career home run and to help the Roadrunners lead 6-2. Ibarra singled to third and Loughman followed with a triple to center as Ibarra reached home (7-2). Grunberg doubled to left as Loughman scored (8-2) and Madison Washington earned a walk with one out on the board. Kindell Brooks hit her first home run of the season to left field as Grunberg and Washington reached home (11-2). Following the home run, Bumford doubled to right field, but to flyouts closed the inning.
The Roadrunners posted 17 hits against the Cardinals.
Marena Estell earned the win after pitching three innings with just two hits. Tatum Seith made her Roadrunner debut, pitching two innings with two strikeouts facing just six batters.
Tomorrow's games against Houston have been canceled due to weather, so the Roadrunners will return to action Feb. 19-21 for the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas.
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