SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team concluded the UTSA Invitational on top, taking down No. 2 seed Weber State, 5-0 in the tournament championship. Redshirt freshman Makayla Madrid made the difference at the plate, going 2-for 3 with a solo home run and three RBIs, while junior Katia Reyes tossed a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts. Additionally, the 'Runners 5-0 start to the campaign represents the program's best-ever.
The Roadrunners (5-0) wrecked the Wildcats (3-2) as Reyes was dealing, going the distance and carrying a no-hit bid into the top of the seventh. She was also solid at the dish, recording two hits, a double, and a stolen base, with former junior college teammate Madison Hornback driving in a run on an RBI double.
Neither team could spark a rally across the first three innings before Madrid stepped up and crushed a solo shot over the wall in right-center.
Reyes then got things going in the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line. Sophomore Aubrie Henderson pinch-ran for the hurler and scored on a Hornback twin-bagger shortly after. A Wildcat miscue put freshman Sabrina Wick on first, and a double steal allowed Hornback to dent home plate. Newcomer Skylar Rucker used a perfectly placed bunt against a defensive shift for an infield double, sending Madrid up to bat with runners on second and third. The Cibolo, Texas native blasted a double off the center field wall, clearing the bases and putting UTSA up 5-0.
Looking to spark a rally, WSU finally broke through against Reyes, legging out an infield single with one out in the top of the seventh. Another base knock followed, but Reyes persevered, inducing a popup ahead of a final strikeout that secured the complete game shutout.
UTSA will now focus on the Lion Classic, which spans three days in Hammond, on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana, with matchups on the docket against South Dakota, Mississippi Valley State, and the hosts.
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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