MIAMI – UTSA softball (6-25, 2-5 C-USA) came out on the wrong end of a tight defensive struggle during the series opener at FIU (16-18, 3-7 C-USA), Friday Night on Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium. Part pitcher's duel, part defensive standoff, FIU's speed helped the Panthers produce a pair of difference-making runs directly from UTSA miscues in the Roadrunners' return to conference play.
The top of the order came out firing for UTSA. In the top of the first, junior shortstop Kat Ibarra roped a leadoff triple straight down the first base line and into the corner – marking her 24th game with a hit and her third three-bagger of the year. Ibarra ties three other Roadrunners for the second-most triples in a season. Taking her first at-bat as the No. 2 hitter, Marena Estell evaded the foul line in shallow right field to bring Ibarra home on an RBI double – granting UTSA a brief 1-0 lead.
In the home half, the Panthers evened things up as catcher Erykah Guerrero's passed ball recovery throw went wide while trying for the putout at third on Isabella Perez, instead allowing her to bolt home for the tie ballgame. FIU swung the lead its way in the bottom of the second, as Brooke McCann scored on Carmen Perez' RBI double down the left line.
With early runs on the board, the pitchers and defenses duked it out. UTSA starter Reagan Smith allowed only one further runner to reach second in the remainder of her 4.0-inning outing. Estell moved into the circle in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk in 2.0 innings of action. Covering the opposite dugout, Sydney Birling went the entire seven innings with three hits allowed. The combined defensive efforts kept the ball largely in the infield with two lineouts, eight groundouts and eight infield pop flies.
With sound play by Ibarra, second baseman Sammy Dees, third baseman Camryn Robillard and first baseman Taylor Jensen, UTSA registered double plays in three consecutive innings from the second to the fourth, tying three other UTSA lineups for the most DPs turned in a game in program history.
Despite the Roadrunners' tough defensive efforts, a pair of sixth-inning misplays allowed Makayla Navarro to race to the plate for a Panthers insurance run. The Roadrunners battled back in the seventh, with Robillard drawing a leadoff walk and Sophie Campbell reaching on a one-out error. However, the Panthers closed out the 3-1 final with UTSA's tying run stranded on first base.
Birling (4-5) earned the win for FIU, while Smith (3-10) took the loss for the Roadrunners.
Estell went 2-for-3 with the RBI to lead UTSA at the plate.
Entering the game at second in Conference USA for steals, the Panthers showed their speed to advance the effort with two steals, moving three runners on passed balls and another on a wild pitch.
The Roadrunners and Panthers return to action at FIU Softball Stadium on Saturday, scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. CDT pitch for the second game of the series.
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