SAN ANTONIO – UTSA softball got homers from Marena Estell and Riley Grunberg but UIW took advantage of four UTSA errors to post a 5-2 win over the Roadrunners, on a perfect Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (12-23) fell behind in the second and after answering with a game-tying blast from Estell, UIW scored single tallies in the third and fourth innings and plated two in the fifth. UTSA got a run back in the fourth but couldn't rally from behind in the late innings.
The Roadrunners started Marena Estell (3-8) in the circle, who worked two innings, allowing one unearned run with three strikeouts. Alexa Williams opened the third inning in a 1-1 game, working the frame with a run allowed on a hit and three walks. Jamie Gilbert opened the fourth, tossing four innings, allowing three runs – one earned – with one walk and three strikeouts.
UTSA collected four hits, including two from Grunberg, a single from Ciarra Mata and the homer from Estell.
UIW (13-26) starter Aaliyah Garcia (2-8) earned the win with seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Friday, opening a three-game series at UAB (21-15, 9-3 Conference USA) at 6 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala.
The Cardinals opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, getting Kendall McGary and Avalon Sanchez on via one-out hit by pitches. After a second out put runners on the corners, a throwing error allowed McGary to score from third for a 1-0 lead.
Estell opened the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot, belted out to right-centerfield to even the game at 1-1. It was her team-leading 10th homer of the year.
UIW took the lead in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with a pair of walks and an error. Maddie Boldt forced home the second run of the game with a full-count walk.
The Cards stretched the lead to 3-1 with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, getting a leadoff double from Abby Frank, who moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI groundout from Savannah Behabetz.
Riley Grunberg led off the bottom of the fourth inning, cranking her 10th homer of the year off the scoreboard in left-centerfield, cutting the lead to 3-2.
Sanchez got the run back for UIW in the top of the fifth inning, hitting her eighth home run of the year out to left-centerfield to leadoff the frame. Teanna Lucio pushed the lead to 5-2 with a bunt single, scoring McGary from third.
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