SAN ANTONIO – Fresh off a commanding cross-town victory over UIW, the UTSA Roadrunners softball team (8-32, 4-11 C-USA) returns to Roadrunner Field as hosts to the UAB Blazers (22-21, 9-6 C-USA) in a three-game Conference USA series, Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 23. The Roadrunners are also raising Leukemia and Lymphoma awareness with Saturday's "Play For Hope" game in honor of former player Hope Ortiz and her family. There may be some adjustments for weather on the weekend and all three games are scheduled for streaming on CUSA.tv.
UTSA Quick Hits
- Tuesday was a banner game for UTSA, putting in an outstanding performance on both sides of the ball for a dominating 7-0 victory over Incarnate Word to complete the season sweep of the Cardinals.
- Led by Taylor Jensen with a pair of solo dingers, UTSA scored all their runs via four home runs. Marena Estell hit a three-run shot and Camryn Robillard hit a bomb for two in the first inning.
- Estell was 3-for-4 with three (3) RBI and two (2) runs.
- Previously, the Roadrunners split games with Western Kentucky their last time at home in San Antonio during a rain-drenched Conference USA series.
- Last week, the Roadrunners were in Ruston, Louisiana to face Louisiana Tech in a conference series. Despite the fact that UTSA's pitchers delivered a 0.97 ERA on the weekend and allowed only .181 hitting from the Lady Techsters, UTSA still suffered a road series sweep.
- UTSA's pitchers allowed just five (5) runs and 13 hits across three games with a score trio of 1-0, 3-0, 1-0 (10 inn.).
- Sunday's LA Tech finale heartbreaker went deep into extra innings and saw junior Jamie Gilbert toss a career-long 7.1 innings, allowing a single run on four (4) hits, striking out a season-high seven (7) batters.
- On Saturday vs Tech, freshman Reagan Smith maintained a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Lady Techsters eventually got the best of her late – as she pitched 5.1 innings with two (2) earned runs on three (3) hits and three walks.
- Across the three-game series, UTSA batted .176 with 15 hits but no runs.
- Notching the first (combined) shutout of the year vs. UIW, UTSA's earned run average over the past four games is now at 0.73 while holding the opposition to 4.25 hits per game on a .177 batting average.
- Junior shortstop Kat Ibarra continues as the pacesetter for UTSA's offense, leading in BA (.358), hits (48), runs (27), on-base percentage (.438), doubles (11), triples (4), walks (19) and stolen bases (6) – On defense, Ibarra has a team-high 60 assists (with 70 putouts), 10 double plays and has delivered the tag on seven (7) caught-stealing plays.
- In the course of the UIW game, Ibarra was surpassed by Jensen for the slugging percentage lead, with Jenson now at .550 to Ibarra's .522.
- Ibarra has the third-most career triples in UTSA history at nine (9) and is tied for the fourth-most in a UTSA season this year.
- Splitting time between first and catcher since joining UTSA as a two-time JUCO National Champion from Florida SouthWestern State College, Jensen paces the team with seven (7) home runs after the double-dose at UIW, batting .303 with 33 hits, 14 runs, four (4) doubles and 18 RBI.
- The Roadrunners' super senior utility, Estell leads the Roadrunners with 26 RBI while batting .304 with 15 runs and 31 hits, including six (6) doubles and five (5) home runs.
- UTSA appears among the top 100 in several national rankings:
- Recording 17 total on the year, UTSA ranks 35th in the NCAA with 0.42 double plays per game.
- Drawing 154 total free passes and 3.85 BB per game, UTSA ranks 18th nationally in walks drawn.
- UTSA led the NCAA in the stat for 14 days from late Feb. to mid-March.
- Collecting 50 two-baggers, the Roadrunners rank 104th in doubles and 99th with 1.25 doubles per game.
- Now at 0.70 per outing, UTSA is 91st in home runs per game.
- Several player performances also appear in the national rankings:
- Garnering NCAA ranks for hitting and extra-base prowess, Kat Ibarra has the 30th-most triples (4) in DI on a 54th-ranked per game average. She also comes in at 102nd with 0.28 doubles per game and is 96th with 48 hits so far.
- Ibarra has the fourth-most doubles among C-USA players.
- Sophomore third baseman Camryn Robillard ties for 10th nationally and first in Conference USA with five (5) sacrifice flies.
- Jensen's seven (7) home runs ranks 198th in the NCAA.
- Garnering NCAA ranks for hitting and extra-base prowess, Kat Ibarra has the 30th-most triples (4) in DI on a 54th-ranked per game average. She also comes in at 102nd with 0.28 doubles per game and is 96th with 48 hits so far.
Play For Hope
Previously the Strike Out Cancer Day, the annual Play For Hope Game is in honor and remembrance of former Roadrunner pitcher Hope Ortiz, who passed away from Leukemia in 2008. She was a three-year letterwinner for the Roadrunners' back-to-back-to-back Southland Conference Regular Season Championship teams from 2004-06. The right-hander from Odem High posted a 6-1 record, 2.86 ERA — which ranks 10th on UTSA's all-time list — along with 34 strikeouts and two saves in 28 career appearances.
On Saturday, the Ortiz family and and Hope's former teammates will join UTSA softball to keep Hope in the hearts of the Roadrunner family and softball team, also helping to raise awareness and give back to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A donation QR code will be displayed at the front entrance for those that would like to donate.
Series vs. UAB
The Roadrunners and Blazers will meet for the 24th time when the series opens up on Friday, with UTSA holding a slight 12-11 advantage overall. The Roadrunners are 7-8 at home and have dropped the last four at Roadrunner Field. In 2019, UTSA swept the series at home. On the road last season, UTSA won both games in Birmingham, 4-0 and 3-2 in an April 15 doubleheader. Only in the Roadrunners' Conference USA era, the series dates back to 2014.
UAB Quick Hits
- The Blazers come to San Antonio fresh off a 6-1 Wednesday win over Samford, but were beaten up pretty notably by No. 11 Arkansas over the weekend – the Razorbacks outscoring UAB 22-1 across 19 innings in Fayetteville.
- UAB is 22-21 on the year, logging a 9-6 Conference USA record and sitting fourth in the league. The Blazers have proven dangerous, winning all three series against teams that swept UTSA, North Texas, FIU and Louisiana Tech.
- UAB was 25-24 last year under Joe Guthrie – who left UAB to join the Texas A&M staff.
- A.J. Daugherty is in his first season replacing Guthrie, coming to UAB following six years and a 260-58 (.818) record at Wallace State College in Hanceville, Ala. – where he was named back-to-back Alabama Community College Conference Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
- UAB averages .254 hitting as a team, averaging 6.35 hits, 1.98 walks and 3.33 runs per game. A bit light on extra base hits, UAB has 39 doubles, 4 triples and 18 home runs.
- The pitching staff has a 4.19 ERA and averages 7.33 opponent hits, 1.91 opponent walks, 4.14 opponent strikeouts and 4.12 runs allowed per outing.
- Sophomore Bella Wiggins provides the top average at .321 with 18 runs and 12 RBI on 35 hits, stealing 8-of-10 bases.
- Senior catcher Sierra Frazier is racking up the stats, leading the Blazers with 32 RBI, in addition to 19 runs on 34 hits (.315 average) – including six (6) doubles and a team-high nine (9) home runs.
- Sophomore second baseman Lauren Brock leads UAB with 41 hits on .289 hitting, racking up a team-best 26 runs to go with 10 RBI.
Ticket Information for the Weekend
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.
UTSA Series Coverage vs. UAB
Friday, April 21 – 6:00 p.m.
Stream: Unavailable due to technical difficulties
Live Stats: UTSA
Saturday, April 22 – 1:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
Saturday, April 22 - TBD
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
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