SAN ANTONIO — A late rally by UTSA was not enough to keep its perfect American Conference record intact, as North Texas posted an 11-6 win on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field
Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the fifth with the possibility of the eight run-rule coming into effect, the Roadrunners plated four runs to extend the contest before eventually seeing their record-setting undefeated start to conference play halted. UTSA fell to 18-14 overall and 7-1 in the American after setting the program record Friday night with their seventh straight victory to start league play.
Makayla Madrid paced the UTSA offense by going 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Taryn Madlock and Sabrina Wick registered two hits apiece, as the Roadrunners pounded out 11 on the afternoon.
The Mean Green (17-14, 7-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as a leadoff walk to Ariah Mitchell followed by a double to right center field set up Riley McNemar’s two-run double to right center, chasing UTSA starter Aubrey Flores.
UNT tacked on two runs in the second on an RBI-single off the fence in right field by Mitchell and a two-out safety squeeze bunt by Eva Daniels that plated Taylor Platt, who reached earlier on a base hit to left field.
The Mean Green added a pair of runs in both the third and fourth frames to take an 8-0 lead.
Meanwhile, UNT starter Anneca Anderson kept the Roadrunners off the scoreboard through the first four innings before UTSA struck for four runs in the fifth. Skylar Rucker drew a leadoff walk and then moved to third on a one-out double to right center by Wick. Madrid then drove in the first run of the day with a base hit to center, while Madlock sent home two more with a double to left field. Following a walk and a pitching change, Samantha Mundine reached on a fielder’s choice, setting up runners at first and third with two outs. UTSA attempted a double steal, as Mundine got caught in a rundown long enough to allow Madlock to advance home and make it 8-4 before she was tagged out.
UNT responded with a 3-run home run to center by Laila Nobles to push the lead back to seven.
UTSA made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as Madrid lined a 2-run homer off the scoreboard in left center to make it 11-6 with nobody out. The Roadrunners got another baserunner, but a double play erased both. Mundine then singled up the middle, but the Mean Green ended the game with a groundout to the shortstop.
Anderson earned the win in the circle to improve to 7-3 despite allowing four runs, five walks and six hits. Flores (1-1) was charged with the loss.
Game three of the series is scheduled for 12 p.m. Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
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