MEMPHIS – The UTSA softball team split with Memphis across a Friday doubleheader, first falling 7-2 before working a 4-3 win at the Tiger Softball Complex.
The Roadrunners (13-12, 1-4 The American) and the Tigers (13-15, 2-3 The American) are set for a rubber match on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Game One
Memphis got the better of UTSA, 7-2, with Reagan Stoudt (0-2) getting tagged with the loss and Rylee Dugar (5-5) earning the win.
Senior Jaylen Prichard led the way at the dish, going 3-for-3 with a walk, and junior Katia Reyes picked up the squad's lone RBI.
The 'Runners got on the board in the top of the first, as freshman Skylar Rucker walked, before swiping second and moving onto third via a Tiger error. Another miscue followed, allowing her to swipe home and deliver a 1-0 UTSA advantage.
Memphis answered quickly, taking home on a double steal in the bottom of the frame. A wild pitch in the third pushed another across for a 2-1 Tiger lead.
Things remained quiet until the bottom of the fifth when Memphis scored four to build a 7-1 edge.
UTSA got one back in the sixth, with senior Crislyne Moreno legging out an infield single and junior Madison Hornback walking to put a pair on. A later groundout allowed sophomore Madison Lenton, who pinch-ran for Moreno, to dent the plate and pull the squad within five.
Rucker and Prichard singled ahead of a sophomore Kalee Rochinski hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases with two out in the top of the seventh. The threat, however, did not come to pass as Memphis found the third out to cement the 7-2 win.
Game Two
UTSA bounced back in game two, with Ava Eldridge (3-1) earning a 4-3 victory and Reyes (3) logging a save. For the Tigers, Jericho Tate (1-3) was dealt the loss.
Sophomore Caton Letbetter shined in the win with a double and a critical defense play, while freshman Sabrina Wick drove in a run. Additionally, Rucker went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
A crooked number for the Tigers put them ahead in the bottom of the second, but UTSA responded promptly in the third. Rucker singled, and Rochinski was plunked before a passed ball and a Memphis miscue allowed them to score for a 2-2 tie.
Letbetter doubled to open the fourth, and a Wick single shortly after sent her home, issuing a 3-2 Roadrunner edge.
Memphis knotted things in the fifth, but UTSA managed a run in the sixth to stay in front, as Rucker was walked before making her way home on a Tiger error.
Reyes entered the circle in the seventh as the 'Runners looked to close things out. A UTSA error put a runner on third, but a heads-up throw by Letbetter gunned her down at the plate for the second out of the inning. Reyes then twirled a strikeout to secure the 4-3 victory.
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.
-UTSA-