COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The UTSA softball team wrapped up competition at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sunday, in a day that began with a 6-5 victory over St. Thomas (Minn.) and concluded with a 5-1 extra-innings defeat at the hands of No. 17 Texas A&M inside Davis Diamond.
The Roadrunners (4-12, 0-0 The American) battled all day as they topped the Tommies (1-14, 0-0 The Summit) and took the nationally recognized Aggies (14-1, 0-0 SEC) to extra innings.
Game One vs St. Thomas (Minn.)
UTSA opened the day with a 6-5 win over St. Thomas, as freshman Zelinda Camacho (1-0) twirled a gem, fanning six across five innings and allowing one hit en route to the victory. Christina Crawford (0-6) got tagged with the loss as the Roadrunners responded late to snatch the contest away from the Tommies.
Five different 'Runners logged RBIs, as freshman Brenna Jahn led the way at the dish, going 2-for-3, while junior Camryn Robillard dented the plate twice.
UST struck first, capitalizing on a Roadrunner miscue to push across the first run of the ballgame. The 'Runners quickly responded as back-to-back-to-back singles by junior Sophie Campbell, senior Taylor Jensen, and Jahn knotted things up, 1-1.
A double and a bunt single put a pair on for the Tommies in the top of the second before a sharply hit single and a double allowed UST to go up 4-1.
Camacho tossed three scoreless frames before a Robillard walk and a junior Jaylen Prichard single sparked a rally in the bottom of the fifth. A comebacker was mishandled by the Tommies' pitcher, allowing Robillard to score ahead of a Campbell sac fly that plated Prichard. Jensen then slapped an RBI single up the middle, tying things up, 4-4.
An error put senior Erykah Guerrero on base, and Robillard doubled to kick-start the bottom of the sixth. A Prichard sacrifice shortly after plated one, and a sophomore Kylie Forney single delivered UTSA a 6-4 advantage.
UST looked to threaten in the top of the seventh, putting a pair on via walks before senior Jamie Gilbert took over in the circle. A base knock followed, trimming the Tommies' deficit to one before Gilbert recorded a strikeout and induced a groundout to cement the 6-5 victory.
Game Two at No. 17 Texas A&M
Despite seven scoreless innings, Gilbert (2-5) got pegged with a loss against the Aggies, while Emiley Kennedy (7-0) secured the win as an extra-inning walk-off grand slam handed No. 17 Texas A&M a 5-1 victory.
Gilbert had ice in her veins as she clamped down, stranding three Aggies in scoring position through the first four innings.
Things got rocky in the bottom of the fifth when a one-out double, a single, and a stolen base put runners on second and third for A&M. A batter was plunked, loading up the bases, but a sensational defensive play by Forney turned two, keeping the game scoreless.
UTSA found their first base runner of the contest in the top of the sixth, as sophomore Madi Hays was issued a full-count walk before Kennedy prevailed with a string of strikeouts ending the inning.
Later, in the bottom of the seventh, a two-out single put an Aggie on base. However, Jensen cut the runner down trying to swipe second, prompting extra innings.
Guerrero pushed junior Lindsey Davis across in the top of the eighth, with a one-out single representing the Roadrunners' first hit of the ballgame.
With their backs against the wall, A&M scored their first run on a bunt single and a UTSA miscue. Now tied, 1-1, UTSA intentionally walked the bases loaded with one out, ahead of a full-count grand slam that allowed the Aggies to earn a 5-1 walk-off win.
UTSA will now turn its attention toward the Boerner Invitational, with games against UIW, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UT Arlington, and Grambling State on the docket from March 1-3 in Arlington, Texas.
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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