SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team braved the frozen tundra and secured a 7-4 victory over Michigan State on Thursday as a part of the Roadrunner Classic at Roadrunner Field. Additionally, the victory was the ‘Runners first over a power program since topping Kansas, 5-3, on Feb. 26, 2021, and the first against a Big 10 foe since beating Illinois, 11-10, on Feb. 11, 2011.
The Roadrunners (8-3) took down the Spartans (3-6) as freshman Kaylie Olivarez (1-1) picked up her first collegiate win, and junior Katia Reyes (2) secured a save. For MSU, Faith Guidry (0-3) was tagged with the loss.
Freshman Skylar Rucker led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored, while senior Jaylen Prichard joined her in logging multiple hits and driving in a run.
The Spartans started the scoring with a run in the top of the first, and UTSA responded in the home half, with freshman Sabrina Wick opening the frame with a leadoff single. A fielder choice groundout put Rucker on, ahead of a Prichard single and an MSU miscue that plated her. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Prichard to scamper home for a 2-1 Roadrunner lead.
In the third, Rucker was walked, and senior Crislyne Moreno sliced a base hit through the left side to put two on base. A Spartan error followed, scoring the pair and doubling UTSA’s total. Akron responded in the fourth, with a solo home run and two-run bomb knotting things up, 4-4.
Not to be deterred, the ‘Runners answered right back, as a Rucker single plated senior Lindsey Davis, and Prichard scored Rucker with two outs to put UTSA back in front. The Roadrunners added another insurance run in the fifth, as multiple errant throws pushed sophomore Sydney McReynolds across for a 7-4 UTSA lead.
Olivarez got into trouble in the sixth, as the Spartans loaded the bases with no outs. Freshman Reagan Stoudt was called out of the pen and induced a fielder choice, a strikeout, and a fly out to escape the inning unscathed. Reyes then trotted out in the seventh for a three-up, three-down frame that secured the victory.
Due to weather in the area, the tournament schedule has been adjusted, and UTSA will now take on St. Thomas at noon on Saturday before concluding the tournament at 2 p.m. against Sam Houston at Roadrunner Field. For more information, please visit www.goutsa.com/roadrunnerclassic.
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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