SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Roadrunners softball team is set to open its 2023 campaign and the 10th season under head coach Michelle Cheatham on Thursday in Huntsville, Texas. The Roadrunners will compete in the Bearkat Classic, with five games spanning Feb. 9-11 at Sam Houston's Bearkat Softball Complex.
UTSA will open up on Feb. 9 against hosting Sam Houston, and will also play two games against Delaware and have solo matchups against Northwestern State and South Dakota State in the course of the tournament.
About UTSA
Last year, UTSA finished the season 18-30 overall and 11-12 in Conference USA matchups.
The Roadrunners return six position starters and three pitchers from a year ago, highlighted by Preseason All-Conference honorees, utility player Marena Estell and shortstop Kat Ibarra. A graduate student, Estell was UTSA's Co-Outstanding Women's Athlete of the Year as the designated player, along with 27 appearances at pitcher. She produced a team-best 3.54 ERA and 6-9 record in 89 innings in the circle, also batting .246 with team highs of 14 home runs and 31 RBI. A junior, Ibarra was a All-Conference USA first-teamer last season, leading the team with a .327 average and registering team highs for runs (37), hits (50), triples (3), total bases (87), stolen bases (3), at-bats (153) and assists (97).
Also back in the bullpen for UTSA, junior Jamie Gilbert paced the Roadrunners with 37 appearances, going 6-8 with a 5.23 ERA and a team-best 71 strikeouts. Behind the plate, junior catcher Erykah Guerrero batted .301 with 22 RBI and 19 runs, launching eight home runs. At second base, sophomore Camryn Robillard returns a .268 average with 25 RBI and 33 runs, collecting eight home runs and seven doubles while logging 69 assists on defense in 2022. In the outfield, senior Ciarra Mata (.245, 21 R, 10 RBI) and sophomore Emily Dear (.250, 23 RBI, 17 R, 8 2B, 5 HR) combined for 123 putouts.
The Roadrunners welcomed nine newcomers to the 2023 roster, including six freshmen, two Division I transfers and one player from the junior college ranks.
About the weekend's opponents
Sam Houston went 15-39 and finished fourth in the WAC Southwest Division on an 8-16 league record. The Bearkats ended the year with a first-round exit in the WAC Championships. Sam Houston was picked 11th in the Preseason WAC Coaches Poll. Head coach Garret Valis is entering his fifth season and has a 78-110 (.415) record at Sam Houston.
Delaware was 29-16 a year ago, winning its first regular season CAA Championship in 2022 on a 11-4 conference mark. The Blue Hens' historic season ended in a CAA Championships elimination game loss to Elon. Delaware was picked to finish second in the CAA Preseason poll. Head coach Jen Steele is entering her fifth season at UD (12th overall) and has a 95-58 (.621) record with the Blue Hens.
Northwestern State garnered a 29-22 finish in 2022 and was fourth in the Southland Conference at 10-8, closing the 2022 season in the SLC tournament. NSU was picked to finish third in the SLC Preseason Poll. Head coach Donald Picket is in his 15th season and has a 365-344-1 (.515) record at NSU.
With the best returning record from 2022 among the tournament field, South Dakota State was 41-13 and went 18-2 to win the regular season Summit League Championship before topping Omaha for the tournament title. SDSU earned a spot in the NCAA Championships in the Orlando Regional, going 1-2 with a ninth-inning victory over Villanova. Kristina McSweeney takes over in her first season with the Jackrabbits, following a 10-year record of 359-186-1 (.658) at Arkansas Tech.
Game Information
Fans can go to the Sam Houston's Tournament Central Page for additional information on this weekend's events in Hunstville.
Bearkat Classic Weekend Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 9
4 p.m. UTSA at Sam Houston
Stream: None
Live Stats: SHSU
Friday, Feb. 10
10 a.m. UTSA vs. Delaware
Stream: None
Live Stats: SHSU
3 p.m. UTSA vs. Northwestern State
Stream: None
Live Stats: SHSU
Saturday, Feb. 11
10 a.m. Delaware vs. UTSA
Stream: None
Live Stats: SHSU
3 p.m. South Dakota State vs. UTSA
Stream: None
Live Stats: SHSU
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