SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team (4-17) will play at home on Roadrunner Field for the first time in five games and only the second weekend this season, as the Roadrunners host the UTEP Miners (8-12) on the opening weekend of Conference USA play. The Roadrunners and Miners will square off in a three game set, Friday (6:00 p.m.), Saturday (1:00 p.m.) and Sunday (12:00 p.m.). All three games are scheduled for broadcast on CUSA.tv.
About UTSA
The Roadrunners picked up an important win over North Dakota State in Memphis at the Blues City Classic, and are looking to snap a current three-game losing skid with the Miners coming out to San Antonio. Of UTSA's losses this season, seven games have been decided by a single run, and five others with only a two-run margin – as the Roadrunners have kept close pace with the opposition.
UTSA is averaging 5.6 runs per game and register 6.9 hits on average after running up against several strong pitching squads over the past two weekends. Notching quality extra-base numbers, UTSA ranks fourth in Conference USA in both doubles (28) and home runs (15), also topping the league in walks drawn (98) to hold a .362 on-base percentage.
UTSA's Preseason All-Conference USA shortstop Kat Ibarra has been above and beyond the most consistent Roadrunner through the first third of the season. She leads UTSA with a .352 average, has team bests of 25 hits, six (6) doubles, two (2) triples,16 runs, 13 walks, four (4) stolen bases and a .535 slugging percentage. Ibarra also leads the Roadrunners with 36 assists and five (5) double plays. She's recorded hits in 16 games this season and carried a 19-game reached base streak before a minor setback, currently on a new two-game set.
Despite not appearing in the first five games, senior utility player Marena Estell leads UTSA with 14 RBI. Newcomers Taylor Jensen and Lilly Hood rank second on the team with 17 hits apiece – Jensen tying Erykah Guerrero with a team-best three (3) home runs.
Freshman Reagan Smith leads the UTSA pitching staff with a 3.11 ERA, but a 1-5 record in 13 appearances, throwing a team-high 47.1 innings. Estell has a 2-4 record and 4.03 ERA in 33 innings. Pacing the Roadrunners in strikeouts, Jamie Gilbert has 29 through 41.1 innings, posting a 5.76 ERA.
Series vs. UTEP
Last year, the Roadrunners finished 18-30 (11-12 C-USA), while the Miners were 15-34 (5-19 C-USA). Also opening up conference play last year in El Paso, UTSA split the Saturday doubleheader (3-4, 6-3) and won the series on Sunday with a 9-1 run-rule victory in five innings. UTSA holds a 21-11 advantage in the series that dates back to 2005, and have claimed victory in seven of the last ten.
UTSA in the rankings
The Roadrunners dropped slightly out of the national lead for walks drawn, racking up 98 to list at third in the NCAA. UTSA continues to be among the national top tier in doubles, coming in at 48th nationally overall and 82nd with 1.33 per game. The Roadrunners also rank 64th in the NCAA with .38 double plays per game on their team total of eight (8) for the year.
With 11 on the year, Jensen ranks 19th nationally and second in C-USA for catching would-be thieves, topping UTSA's individual rankings. On offense, Ibarra ranks 60th in total hits and 130th with 38 total bases, 131st in triples per game and 129th in walks per outing. Estell ties for 15th nationally and the C-USA lead with three (3) sacrifice flies.
About the UTEP Miners
Coming into the weekend at 8-12, the Miners played nine consecutive home contests across two weeks and spent the last weekend in New Mexico, coming into San Antonio with five straight losses. UTEP is averaging 5.15 runs per game of 8.6 hits, ranking fifth nationally in doubles (38) and 19th with 1.25 home runs per game. Of their 171 season hits, 66 have gone for extra bases. In the circle, UTEP holds a 5.15 ERA and allows 6.1 runs and 9.3 hits per contest.
Junior left fielder Lexi Morales is the leader at the plate with a 50th-ranked .459 average, racking up eight (8) doubles (seventh most in the NCAA) out of 28 hits and a team-leading 14 walks and 15 runs scored – putting up a .568 on-base percentage. Junior right fielder Savannah Favre fills in where Morales is short, batting .405 with team highs of 30 hits, four (4) home runs and 18 RBI, scoring 11 runs and reaching base at a .421 clip. Junior infielder Rylan Dooner has 16 RBI, 11 runs and a .339 average as well.
For the pitching staff, senior Zaylie Calderon controls almost every meaningful stat category, leading UTEP with a 3.28 ERA through 11 appearances and 59.2 innings. She's held opposing batters to .260 hitting, has a 4-3 record and has 39 strikeouts. The appearance leader is sophomore Aalijah Alarcon, tossing 12 games with a 3-5 record and 6.75 ERA.
Head coach T.J. Hubbard is in his fourth season leading the Miners with a 39-89 (.305) record.
Ticket Information
Single-Game Ticket Prices (all seats general admission)
- Adults: $7
- Juniors (ages 3-18): $5
- Seniors (ages 60+): $5
- Military (with ID): $5
- UTSA Students: Students receive free admission to all home games by showing a UTSA ID at the entrance to Roadrunner Field
Buy your game tickets HERE.
Weekend Promotions
- Friday: Get Lucky at Roadrunner Field - All in attendance will have a chance to enter free raffles to win prizes in honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's holiday. UTSA will be giving away gift cards, coupons, and other UTSA Athletics prizes. Don't miss out on your chance to get lucky!
- Saturday: Anthem Buddies - Kids in attendance can be selected to join the Roadrunners on the field during the National Anthem.
- Sunday: Set The Expectation Game - Set The Expectation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual and interpersonal violence. UTSA shows support by raising sexual assault awareness for those that have been affected in our community. Special guest and partner, UTSA Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students LaTonya (LT) Robinson will throw the first pitch for Sunday's game.
UTSA Series Coverage
Friday, March 10 – 6:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
Saturday, March 11 – 1:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
Sunday, March 12 - 12:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
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