SAN ANTONIO – After soaking in their first BYE weekend of the 2023 campaign following six weeks of consecutive action, UTSA softball (6-23) is opening back up with midweek action up I-35, as the Roadrunners hit the road to face No. 22 Baylor (23-8) at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, at Getterman Stadium. This game marks UTSA's first ranked foe of the year and will be broadcast via Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (subscription).
About UTSA
After opening up the Conference USA slate with a 2-1 series victory, UTSA has seen some challenges putting one in the win column against some impressive opposition and come into Waco looking to snap six-game losing skid. UTSA is averaging 4.24 runs per game and recording averages of 6.9 hits and 4.4 walks per outing – batting .256 as a team. In the circle, UTSA has a 6.07 ERA, allowing 6.4 runs and 8.0 hits per game.
Cutting Close
A trio of high-scoring affairs in the previous nine days may skew the numbers for UTSA's defense, but more than half of the outings have been tightly-contested through the first half of the season. The Roadrunners have engaged in 12 one-run contests with five more decided by two runs – nearly 59 percent of games this season – unfortunately, ending in 14 close losses. A few plays in the opposite direction could have completely inverted the season record.
Extras Work
Building up strong extra base numbers, UTSA ranks fourth in Conference USA in doubles per game (1.38), fifth in doubles (40) and fourth in home runs (19). The Roadrunners have separated themselves in the conference for walks drawn all season long, moving in and out of the national statistical leader spot and currently own 128 free passes. For the effort, UTSA holds a .364 on-base percentage.
Pacing the Roadrunners
Junior shortstop Kat Ibarra has proven to be a cornerstone of both the offensive and defensive efforts for the Roadrunners this season, more than living up to her Preseason All-Conference USA nod. Demonstrating why she was also a C-USA first-teamer a year ago, Ibarra is leading the team with a .367 average, tying for 12th in C-USA, while earning team highs in hits (36), slugging percentage (.541), on-base percentage (.456), doubles (10), triples (2), walks (16), stolen bases (6) and has the fewest strikeouts among full-time starters (12). Ibarra also shares the team lead of 20 runs with freshman Lilly Hood and has 10 RBI. Defensively, Ibarra has been a roadblock for opponents, pacing the Roadrunners with 43 assists (with 53 putouts), seven (7) double plays and has delivered the tag on six caught-stealing plays.
Recently taking a more constant position in the lineup, sophomore Emily Dear is hitting .333, while two-time junior college National Champion Taylor Jensen is batting .321 with 26 hits, including three (3) doubles and three (3) home runs, notching 13 RBI and nine (9) runs. Splitting time between catcher and first base, Jensen wiped out 6-of-14 steal attempts against her and facilitated three (3) double plays. Also a member of the Preseason C-USA team as a utility, super-senior pitcher and designated player Marena Estell bats .294 with four (4) doubles, three (3) home runs, 17 RBI and 10 runs since sitting out the first five games. Junior catcher Erykah Guerrero has the lead on the long ball for now with four (4) bombs, but three Roadrunners have three (3) apiece.
Series vs. Baylor
The Roadrunners trail in the 13-27 series record against the Bears, last meeting the Bears in San Antonio in 2019. The Bears have claimed five straight and UTSA last earned a win in 2015 via a nine-inning, 2-1 decision in Waco, where Baylor has a 14-6 advantage. The series dates back to opening day of the 1996 season, both parts of the doubleheader ending in Roadrunner wins, 6-0 and 2-0.
UTSA in the rankings
The Roadrunners' renewed claim over the national walks lead was short lived, with North Texas and Texas State doing more to limit their free passes than any prior opponents. With 128 draw walks on the year, UTSA ranks fifth in the NCAA. With 40 as a team, the Roadrunners rank 64th in doubles and 66th in doubles per game to stay in the NCAA's first tier for two-baggers. UTSA also ranks 76th in double plays per game (0.34) and 72nd in fielding percentage (.968).
Individually, Ibarra ranks 27th nationally in doubles (10) and 46th in doubles per game (0.34), while coming in at 83rd in hits (36).
Marena Estell's three (3) sac flies ties for 38th in the NCAA and is second among Conference USA players.
New Faces in the Field
The Roadrunners have put four newcomers into regular position action from the start of the season, with grad transfer second baseman Sammy Dees and freshmen Madison Lenton and Lilly Hood as steady starters in the outfield. Hood has started all 29 and Lenton played in 24. Dees has appeared in 21 games. Rounding out the quartet, Jensen has played in 27 games with 25 starts at either first or behind the plate. In addition, the Roadrunners feature six underclassmen among the 12 most frequent players in the lineup. Likewise, Reagan Smith is only a freshman among the pitchers, leading the team in innings (60.0) and appearances (20).
About the Baylor Bears
At 23-8 on the year, the Bears are UTSA's first ranked opponent and are back at home this week after suffering a series sweep at No. 2 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Before that, Baylor had reeled off five straight wins, including a series sweep vs. Houston.
BU is averaging 5.4 runs and 8.1 hits on a 30th-ranked .311 team average. They list at fifth in the Big 12 with 47 doubles and rank surprisingly near last in slugging percentage (.434), and fifth in on-base percentage (.402). The Pitching staff keeps games tight with a Big 12 third-best 1.91 ERA and they average just 2.5 runs and 5.0 hits allowed per game.
At the plate, sophomore first baseman Shaylon Govan hails from Katy, Texas, like Ibarra, and is leading the Bears with a 60th-ranked .413 batting average, rocking a team-high 37 RBI that ranks 10th in the nation. Govan has five (5) doubles and seven (7) home runs, in addition to a team-high 22 walks. junior utility Aliyah Binford also has a .440 average with 11 games played. Junior catcher Sydney Collazos has a .404 average, while junior outfielder McKenzie Wilson is hitting .357 with a team-best 35 hits that include four (4) doubles and two (2) triples. Helped along by a team-best 15 stolen bases, Wilson is the clear scoring threat for Baylor, racking up 27 runs in 31 games.
Game Coverage: UTSA at Baylor
Tuesday, March 28: 5:00 p.m.
Stream: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ ($)
Live Stats: Baylor
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