SAN ANTONIO – Battling both the weather and the Owls on Saturday, the UTSA softball team (8-40, 3-19 C-USA) couldn't quite keep pace as Florida Atlantic (32-18, 14-9 C-USA) put up consistent runs to pull away for a 9-4 win at Roadrunner Field, claiming the series win.
For the second consecutive game, FAU logged immediate runs, and for the second straight outing catcher Riley Ennis got the UTSA starter for a grand slam. Though the Owls jumped out to a five-run first inning lead capped by Ennis' hit, the Roadrunners were quick to answer.
Shortstop Kat Ibarra led off the first with her 14th double of the season and Marena Estell joined her aboard with a walk. Third baseman Camryn Robillard made the effort count, lifting an RBI double to right center to bring in Ibarra. Sophomore first baseman Sophie Campbell brought the deficit within a single run, crushing her first career home run beyond the left center wall – ringing up a three-run blast.
Across the next four frames, reliever Jamie Gilbert kept most of the Owls' lineup down, retiring 12-of-15 batters, but Olivia Peterson and Sara Berthiaume got her for home runs to stretch FAU's lead with the only two hits allowed by the junior. However, Mother Nature jumped into the mix to make the UTSA comeback a challenge, forcing a lightning delay in excess of two hours.
Coming out of the break, UTSA switched up the pitching and Berthiaume got Reagan Smith for a two-run homer to tack on some insurance in the sixth. Robillard and Campbell fired off a pair of singles to jumpstart a rally, but the FAU defense behind Summer Clark (1-2) cut off the threat and helped her to a 5.0-inning win. Taking the loss, Kenzi Schultz (0-4) tossed the first inning before handing off.
Campbell and Robillard were both 2-for-3 on the day, accounting for all four of the UTSA RBI. Ibarra's first-inning double brought her total up to 14 and into a tie for UTSA's third-most doubles in a season.
The UTSA Roadrunners will conclude their season on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. It will also be the final contest UTSA's two seniors, as Ciarra Mata and Marena Estell will be joined by family and guests in celebration of their careers after the game. First pitch for Sunday's game is set for 1:00 p.m.
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