DENTON, Texas – The UTSA softball team (6-20, 2-2 C-USA) went toe-to-toe with the defending Conference USA tournament champion, North Texas (17-9, 3-1 C-USA) on Friday night at Lovelace Stadium. Though the game proved to be a defensive struggle in the plunging temperatures, a single inning outburst for UNT made the difference for the Mean Green in downing the visiting Roadrunners in the C-USA series opener, 4-1.
Although the Roadrunners drew first blood with a pair of singles in the top of the first, the Mean Green were able to convert a single runner in the bottom of the frame, as UNT scoring leader Kailey Gamble's RBI double got to the left field wall and brought home Molly Rainey for the one-run advantage.
Countering quickly, senior left fielder Ciarra Mata strung a drive down the left field line that scored junior catcher Erykah Guerrero and knotted the score at 1-1.
Despite their best efforts toward successfully earning runners, registering five hits and three walks through the first three innings, the seven runners left aboard came back to haunt UTSA as North Texas broke away in the bottom of the third.
With a pair of runners aboard, catcher Kalei Christensen snuck an RBI single up the middle to edge ahead of the Roadrunners, but left fielder Rylee Nicholson's two-run double to the left center warning track stood as the difference-maker, extending the UNT lead to 4-1.
Coming out of the three-run frame, senior pitcher Marena Estell effectively cuffed the Mean Green, only allowing one of the next 10 batters she faced to get aboard – and no hits for the remainder of the game.
Unfortunately, UNT starter McKenzie Wagoner was a similar roadblock to the Roadrunners' rally aims. Across the final four frames, Wagoner allowed just two hits, an error and no UTSA runners passed second base. Wagoner (7-1) upheld her ace status via the complete game win, giving six hits, one run and striking out six. Estell (2-5) went the 6.0-inning distance in the loss, striking out four with four hits and five walks allowed.
At the plate, junior catcher Taylor Jensen was 2-for-3 and earned a walk to lead UTSA. Guerrero was 1-for-3 with the lone UTSA run. Seeing action as a mid-game entry in center field, Rylee Giddens earned her first collegiate career hit on a sixth-inning double.
The Roadrunners and Mean Green continue their league series on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch at Lovelace Stadium. Saturday's game is again scheduled for broadcast on ESPN+.
- UTSA -
