SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA softball team suffered a 5-2 setback at the hands of Abilene Christian on Tuesday, in what represented the squad's first contest at Roadrunner Field in the 2024 season.
The Roadrunners (7-15, 0-0 The American) couldn't best the Wildcats (8-12, 0-0 WAC) despite an impressive performance by senior Erykah Guerrero.
She went 2-for-4 at the dish, smacking a pair of doubles, while senior Taylor Jensen and freshman Taryn Madlock each drove in runs for the squad. In the effort, freshman Iliana Saucedo (3-1) was tagged with a loss, as Talia Neilsen (4-3) earned the win and Bubba Rote (1) the save.
UTSA got on the board in the bottom of the first, with a Guerrero double and walks by sophomore Kylie Forney and junior Jaylen Prichard loading up the bases. Jensen sliced a single through the left side, plating Prichard and issuing a 1-0 Roadrunner lead. The Wildcats then turned two and induced a fly out to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
A solo home run allowed ACU to tie the contest in the top of the third, but UTSA regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Sophie Campbell was issued free passes to start the frame, and a Madlock single quickly allowed her to dent the plate and deliver a 2-1 Roadrunner advantage.
In the top of the sixth, the Wildcats put together a two-out rally, scoring a trio of runs on a pair of singles, a double, and a UTSA miscue. With ACU leading 4-2, they added another to their total in the seventh on an RBI double, and Rote kept UTSA off the scoreboard, securing the 5-2 victory.
The 'Runners will now open American Athletic Conference play with a three-game series in Birmingham, Alabama on the docket. Competition against UAB will begin on Friday with a 5 p.m. first pitch at Mary Bowers Field signaling the beginning of league play.
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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