SAN ANTONIO – A grand slam from Riley Grunberg in the sixth helped the Roadrunners defeat the Miners 11-6 in game one of the series.
UTEP was on the board first with a three-run homer in the top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, Celeste Loughman singled to the pitcher and Riley Grunberg followed reaching on a fielder's choice as Loughman was tagged out. With two outs, Madison Washington homered to center field as the Roadrunners trailed 3-2. A strikeout ended the inning.
In the fourth, UTSA scored six runs to take the lead. With one out, Marena Estell hit a solo home run to center field to tie the game, 3-3. Hannah Boring singled to left field, Erykah Guerrero was hit by a pitch and Kat Ibarra singled to left as well to load the bases. Loughman earned a walk to score Guerrero and lead 4-3. Grunberg stepped up and smacked the ball over the left field wall for a grand slam and to extend the lead to five (8-3).
The Miners scored two more runs in the fifth to close the gap to three (8-5).
The Roadrunners scored three more runs in the sixth. Loughman singled, then stole second to reach scoring position with two outs on the board. Washington reached on an error as Loughman scored a run (9-5). Taylor Medina hit her third home run of the season to score Washington and lead 11-5.
UTEP scored a single run in the top of the seventh to close out the game.
Both teams recorded 10 hits on the day with Ibarra and Loughman leading with two each.
Clarissa Hernandez earned the start, pitching six innings with seven strikeouts. Alex Williams entered in the final inning and post3ed a single strikeout.
The Roadrunners and the Miners return to the field tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
-UTSA-
