SAN ANTONIO – It took fewer than two games in a UTSA Softball uniform for starting center fielder Samantha Mundine to elicit audible wows from the Roadrunner Field crowd.
In the sixth inning of the team’s game against No. 9 Nebraska on February 7, Mundine stretched to make a seemingly improbable catch up against the deepest part of the outfield wall, then threw to Makayla Madrid at first base to complete a thrilling double play.
That was only the beginning for the junior transfer from Luling, Texas. Mundine has made an immediate and impressive impact for the Roadrunners this season, playing in all 29 games with 28 starts, since joining UTSA after two seasons at McNeese.
Mundine has helped spark the Roadrunners to a 6-0 record in the American Conference, which ties for the best start in league play in program history.
“I know with our conference, with the teams we’ll be playing, the non-routine plays need to become routine,” Mundine said. “One pitch, one catch can change the whole game. If you can make those plays routine, you have a really good chance of keeping yourself in the big games.”
Mundine grew up 70 miles away from the UT San Antonio campus and starred at Navarro High School in Seguin. She was crowned the 2021 District Offensive Most Valuable Player and was a First-Team All-District catcher in 2022, as well as a UIL Class 4A All-State selection. She ranked as high as No. 23 overall on the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 list.
Mundine played her first two collegiate seasons at McNeese, where she was a 2025 first-team All-Southland Conference selection. She hit a collective .345 across her first two collegiate seasons.
During her time in Lake Charles, La., the Cowgirls won 81 games and a pair of Southland Conference regular-season games. Mundine credits the impact of McNeese head coach James Landreneau on helping create the approach she brings to the game.
“McNeese taught me toughness and what it takes to get to the postseason,” she said. “We played a tough schedule and James is a really good coach. He coaches hard and I think that really helped me grow as a person and helped uplift people around me. I’ve brought that over here and I think it’s really helped all of the girls out. We’ve gotten a lot tougher and I’ve seen us grow a lot already just since the fall.”
While at McNeese, Mundine played one season with Crislyne Moreno, who later transferred to UTSA for the 2025 campaign. That connection, along with her local ties, immediately drew UTSA head coach Vann Stuedeman to Mundine when she was looking to transfer.
“Crislyne paved the way, and I’ve known James for a long time and really respect him, his program and how he runs things at McNeese,” Stuedeman said. “When Sam went in the portal, I definitely did my homework, with her being from Seguin, and I called James. He does a really great job of molding young ladies into warriors and it’s the toughness that she speaks of. She’s an over .300 career hitter and I knew that she would bring the things that we needed to take the next step.”
Mundine trains herself at an elite level not only physically, but mentally.
Assistant coach Jim Bray takes the UTSA team through visualization exercises on the field prior to every game and it’s a tool that Mundine has found to be an instrumental part of her preparation.
“I’m just always ready for it,” she said. “During visualization, I always envision the plays I am going to make. If the situation comes and there’s runners on base, I know if the ball comes to me, I need to throw it to a certain place. Or if there’s fast people on, I know where the ball needs to go if it gets hit to me.”
Mundine’s numbers tell an impressive story. She’s hitting .295 on the season and ranks 37th nationally in sacrifice flies with four. She’s also made countless web gems in the outfield this season. But Mundine’s impact on her team extends far beyond the numbers.
She’s grateful to be back playing close to home and is driving the Roadrunners’ impressive trajectory this season.
“I was excited to come back home,” Mundine said. “Coach Vann preached about a winning program and uplifting the program. She’s done nothing but that since she’s gotten here. I just thought that it would be cool to be part of building a new culture and making UTSA a winning team.”
Mundine and the Roadrunners (17-12, 6-0 The American) are back in action on Wednesday, traveling to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston at 6 p.m.