BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Marena Estell worked a complete-game shutout in the first game – a 4-0 win – to help push UTSA softball to a doubleheader sweep at UAB, the second-place team in Conference USA's West Division, on Friday evening at Mary Bowers Field.
The Roadrunners (14-23, 6-7 C-USA) held the Blazers (21-18, 9-5 C-USA) to a scoreless first game, using a complete-game shutout from Estell. Tied up heading into the seventh inning of the second game of the evening, a triple from Lauren Coerver put UTSA in scoring position as she was forced home on a sacrifice fly from Erykah Guerrero. Estell then took the circle in the seventh and earned her first save of the year.
Estell cranked her 11th homer of the year and worked a complete-game shutout in a win in the first game.
Game One
UTSA got the complete-game shutout from Estell in the series opener, as the righty scattered only two hits – both in the seventh – with a walk over the seven innings of a 3-0 UTSA win.
UTSA opened the scoring with a run in the fourth with a solo shot from Emily Deer and added three in the seventh via an RBI double from Coerver and a two-run double from Deer.
Deer went 2-for-4 with her third homer of the year to help lead the offense, which also got two hits from Ciarra Mata. Estell, Coerver, Kaitlyn Morado and Riley Grunberg each had hits in the win.
UAB ace Sarah Cespedes (9-4) suffered the loss, allowing a run over four innings.
Game Two
After UAB rallied with single runs in the fifth and sixth to erase a two-run UTSA lead, Guerrero hung a sacrifice fly to score Coerver with the go-ahead run in the seventh and Estell worked a shutout seventh to earn a 3-2 win in the twinbill finale on Friday.
Estell drove in two of UTSA's three runs in the win and earned her first save of the year. UTSA also got hits from Robillard, Grunberg, Coerver, Guerrero and Kat Ibarra.
Jamie Gilbert (4-4) earned the win with six innings, allowing four hits and two runs, walking two and striking out one. Estell worked a perfect seventh.
With Robillard on first, Estell sent a home run over the right field fence for a two-run hit for an early lead in the first inning. It was her team-leading 11th homer of the year.
The Blazers scored their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth with a left field homer. With two runners on in the sixth, an RBI double from UAB tied the board at 2-2.
Opening the seventh inning, Coerver sent a ball to the right field wall for a triple. With one out, Guerrero stepped into the box, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Coerver as the Roadrunners gained a one-run lead. A three-up, three-down inning for the Blazers gave UTSA the 2-0 sweep with a 3-2 final.
Makenna Pierce (5-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs over 6.2 innings.
The Roadrunners return to the field on Sunday to conclude the series at UAB. The first pitch will be thrown at 12 p.m. The game will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
- UTSA -
