SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team topped New Mexico State 2-0, ahead of a 9-6 victory over Saint Francis as part of the 2026 Birds Up Bash on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (9-10) bested the Aggies (9-12) as freshman Arlette Hernandez (6-2) picked up the win, twirling a complete game two-hit shutout with four strikeouts. Destiny Perez (1-1) was dealt the loss for New Mexico State.
Junior Taryn Madlock was the hero, drilling a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off, 2-0 victory. Madlock was 2-for-3 across the game, representing the lone Roadrunner with multiple hits.
In game two, the ‘Runners topped the Red Flash (0-18) as redshirt junior Madison Collins (1-2) picked up the win and sophomore Kaylie Olivarez (1) the save, while Zoe Kesterson (0-3) was tagged with the loss.
Redshirt sophomore Makayla Madrid was 3-for-4, driving in three runs for the squad, while freshman Brookelynn Meador was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Madlock and freshman Demiree Stafford each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, as senior Katia Reyes and junior Jaeden Burnham also knocked in runs for the squad.
SFU got on the board in the top of the first on a wild pitch. UTSA responded in the bottom of the second, as Meador blasted a two-run shot over the wall in right center, plating junior Samantha Mundine, who walked earlier in the inning for a 2-1 edge.
Not to be deterred, the Red Flash added three to their total in the third to go up, 4-2. The ‘Runners again answered, this time with a Madlock double scoring Stafford, and a later base knock for Madrid plating Madlock and Meador for a 5-4 lead.
The Red Flash got a run in the top of the fourth, and UTSA matched in the home half, as sophomore Skylar Rucker legged out a leadoff triple before coming home on a sharply hit ball by Stafford.
Madrid and Burnham singled in the fifth, and shortly after, a Reyes two-bagger knocked in Madrid, as an extra insurance run resulted in a 7-5 advantage.
In the sixth, a senior Madison Lenton single and a Meador double set the table for Madrid, who rocketed a single through the right side for a run, and Burnham poked one past the infield to increase the lead to four.
From there, Olivarez secured the save with a final strikeout, cementing the 9-6 victory.
The ‘Runners will wrap up the Birds Up Bash on Sunday, as they battle Saint Francis at 11:30 a.m. and UT Arlington at 2 p.m.
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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