COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Behind multi-hit games by sophomore Kylie Forney and junior Sophie Campbell, the UTSA softball team erased a four-run deficit to take down St. Thomas (Minn.), 12-8 as a part of the Texas A&M Invitational at Davis Diamond.
The Roadrunners (3-11, 0-0 The American) tasted victory against the Tommies (1-13, 0-0 The Summit), as senior Jamie Gilbert (2-4) fanned seven in 6.0 innings of relief to earn the win, while Ella Cook (1-3) got tagged with the loss.
Meanwhile, Forney went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Campbell drove in two on a pair of hits. Additionally, senior Taylor Jensen batted in a trio of runs, and freshman Brenna Jahn plated two.
UTSA wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as junior Jaylen Prichard, Forney, and Campbell all singled, juicing the bases in the top of the first. Jensen recorded a bases-loaded walk to push across the first run of the ballgame, Jahn drove in Forney on a sac fly, and Campbell charged home on a wild pitch, delivering a 3-0 Roadrunner advantage.
The Tommies quickly responded, launching a solo home run to open their half of the inning. A plunked batter and a pair of singles loaded the bases ahead of a free pass that scored another run for UST. With no outs on the board, freshman Zelinda Camacho entered and twirled a trio of strikeouts, stranding runners on every base to preserve a 3-2 UTSA lead.
The ‘Runners tacked on to their total in the top of the second, as junior Camryn Robillard singled and swiped second before denting the plate on a base hit by sophomore Madi Hays.
Now trailing 4-2, the Tommies found a spark in the bottom of the second, scoring a pair of runs and later using a three-run home run to take a 7-4 lead.
UST added one more in the fourth, building a four-run edge, and the Roadrunners kept battling, putting up a crooked number in the fifth for an 8-6 score line. Forney led off the inning with a single, swiped second, and scored on a single by Campbell. The inning continued as Jahn dropped a double into the gap, plating junior Lindsey Davis, who entered as a pinch runner.
The ‘Runners then knotted things up in the sixth, as a Prichard walk and a double by Forney put a pair in scoring position. Jensen then blasted a two-bagger of her own into left field, prompting an 8-8 deadlock.
In the top of the seventh, sophomore Madison Lenton slapped a one-out single, and made her way to second on a wild pitch. A Tommie error followed, allowing her to score ahead of a trio of walks, resulting in an 11-8 score line. Jensen then used a deep fly ball to plate Prichard, placing UTSA up 12-8 entering the bottom of the seventh. Gilbert then found a trio of outs, cementing the UTSA victory.
The ‘Runners and Tommies will meet again on Sunday, with an 11:30 a.m. start time at David Diamond, before UTSA closes out the Texas A&M Invitational, facing the No. 17 ranked Aggies at 2 p.m.
Keep up with UTSA Softball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSASB, X (Twitter) @UTSASoftball, and on Instagram @utsasoftball.
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