SAN ANTONIO — Samantha Mundine had a pair of hits and drove in four runs to help lead UTSA to a 14-3 run-rule victory over Memphis on Friday evening at Roadrunner Field to remain perfect at 4-0 in American Conference play.
Mundine launched a 3-run home run into the trees beyond the right-field fence with two outs in the bottom of the first inning to hand the Roadrunners — who improved to 15-12 overall — a 4-2 lead that they would never relinquish against the Tigers (7-17, 0-4). Her blast was the second of two long balls in the opening frame, as Skylar Rucker led off with a solo shot to right center.
UTSA put the game out of reach with a 10-run third behind four hits, four walks and a hit by pitch. Mundine plated the first run of the frame on a bases-loaded, RBI-single to right. A bases-loaded walk to Katia Reyes forced in another run and then Madison Hornback was hit by a pitch to send a third run home. Demiree Stafford drove in a run with a base hit through the right side of the infield, while Makayla Madrid and Taryn Madlock each had two-run singles later in the frame to help push the lead out to 14-2.
Memphis struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first, as Ariel Davis led off the game with a double to right center and scored on a two-out triple down the right-field line by Faith Brown. Kennedy Semien then drove in Brown with a hard-hit infield single.
The Tigers scored their other run in the top of the fifth on an RBI-groundout by Semien, but UTSA ended the game with a strike out on the next batter, as the 8-run rule was in effect.
Arlette Hernandez worked four-plus innings, striking out six and allowing three earned runs on four hits to run her record to 9-4 on the year. Aubrey Flores got the final three outs in relief, including the strikeout to end the contest.
Avery Stutts (2-5) was tagged with the loss for Memphis, surrendering four earned runs on four hits. The Tigers issued seven free passes on the day, six walks and a hit batter.
Game two of the three-game series is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday.
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