CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A big offensive push in the fourth inning allowed Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (8-6) to defeat UTSA softball (3-14) in the Roadrunners' first midweek road contest of the season. The Roadrunners held the early 2-1 advantage, but a six-run Islanders frame proved too much of a shift, as the Islanders held up defensively for an 8-2 win.
The Islanders also became the first opponent to reach the board first in five games, recording a singular run in the opening frame. J.J. Garcia's slow-roller created a UTSA miscue and allowed her to reach third and set up the score, coming home on a Sydney Hoyt RBI fielder's choice. Working out of the jam in her second UTSA start, Kenzi Schultz calmed down the threat and allowed only on unearned run.
Schultz kept the Islanders off the scoreboard for the next two frames, allowing two hits with three walks and two strikeouts across her entire 3.0-inning outing.
In the meantime, UTSA surged in the top the third. Sammy Dees led off with a walk and Kat Ibarra smacked her sixth double of the year to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Designated player Marena Estell's sacrifice fly tied the game and Emily Dear's RBI line drive up the middle edged the Roadrunners in front, 2-1.
With UTSA going to the bullpen to open the fourth, the Islanders seemed to have reliever Jamie Gilbert's number. TAMU-CC logged four consecutive singles, first tying the game on Alexandria Torres' RBI down the left field line and then going in front on Garcia's shot through the left side. Three additional hits to Hoyt, Kimane Rogron and Crystal Davila accounted for four additional runs and a 7-2 Islanders lead.
Hoyt added another RBI single in the fifth to extend the final difference out to 8-2.
Ibarra was 2-for-4 for her sixth multi-hit game of the year.
Giving up the UTSA runs early, Primose Aholelei (5-5) remained in the circle and tossed the entire 7.0-inning game, limiting UTSA to three hits and four walks, striking out seven. Gilbert is 1-5 after absorbing the loss.
The Roadrunners will leave the state for the first time this season over the weekend, heading to Memphis for the Blues City Classic. UTSA will face matchups with North Dakota State, Memphis, SIU Edwardsville and Drake, Friday to Sunday, March 3-5 at Tigers Softball Complex
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