SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team split on the second day of the Birds Up Bash, first besting Houston 5-4 before falling to the Cougars 3-2 at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (11-7) will now face Le Moyne in the tournament consolation contest on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Game One vs. Houston
The 'Runners picked up a 5-4 victory over the Cougars to start the day, with freshman Kaylie Olivarez (3-1) picking up the win and a save (2), scattering three and fanning four over 4.2 innings. Meanwhile, for Houston, Rylee Michalak (2-1) was dealt the loss.
At the plate, sophomore Kalee Rochinski went 1-for-2 with a walk and a pair of RBIS, and junior Katia Reyes walloped a three-run bomb.
UTSA started on fire, with back-to-back singles by freshmen Sabrina Wick and Skylar Rucker opening the bottom of the first. Moments later, Rochinski laced a double into left, plating the two and handing the 'Runners an early lead. Senior Crislyne Moreno was then walked, and Reyes launched a long ball down the left field line to work a 5-0 edge.
The Roadrunner pitching staff kept the Cougars off the board until the fifth when they put up a crooked number to pull within three.
Later in the seventh, Houston looked to mount a comeback, scoring two on a two-run home run. With their lead cut to one, UTSA brought Olivarez, who started the game, back out of the bullpen, and she got the final two outs to secure the 5-4 win.
Game Two vs. Houston
The Roadrunners fell 3-2 in the final game of the day, as redshirt sophomore Madison Collins (0-3) was issued the loss, and Gigi Solis (3-1) earned the win.
Redshirt freshman Makayla Madrid went 2-for-3 and had both of the 'Runners RBIs, with Wick joined her in logging multiple hits.
UTSA got on the board in the third, as senior Lindsey Davis walked and Wick singled to put two on. A fielder's choice groundout followed, bringing up Madrid, who sliced a double down the left field line to plate Wick.
Houston responded in the following frame, scoring two to jump out in front in the fourth, and they added another in the fifth to snag a 3-1 edge.
In the bottom of the fifth, Madrid brought home Davis on a single into left-center to work a 3-2 score line, but UTSA was unable to recover, eventually falling 3-2.
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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