SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA softball team topped Tulsa twice across an American Conference twinbill on Saturday, first picking up a 5-2 win, before claiming a thrilling 12-11 extra innings victory at the Collins Family Softball Complex.
The Roadrunners (13-11, 2-0 American) bested the Golden Hurricane twice (8-13, 0-2 American) as freshman Arlette Hernandez (7-3) picked up the win in game one, scattering six hits across a complete game outing, recording eight strikeouts in the process. For Tulsa, Maura Moore (3-5) was issued the loss.
At the plate, redshirt sophomore Makayla Madrid was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. Senior Katia Reyes and sophomore Sabrina Wick joined Madrid with multiple hits, while Reyes logged two RBIs and Wick drove in one.
UTSA came out hot, as sophomore Skylar Rucker walked and scored in the top of the first on a sharply hit ball by Wick. After swiping second, Wick came around and dented home on a Meador base knock. From there, a Madrid two-bagger had two on for Reyes, who drove in both on a bloop single for a 4-0 lead.
Things were quiet until the fifth, when Madrid launched a solo shot, and the Golden Hurricane scored their first run of the ballgame in the home half.
Tulsa had another home run in the bottom of the seventh as they looked to mount a comeback. Herandez, however, eliminated the threat, securing the 5-2 victory.
In game two, sophomore Reagan Stoudt (3-4) picked up the win across a nine-inning affair, while Isabella Arroyo (1-2) took the loss.
Junior Samantha Mundine was the hero at the plate, driving in five runs on a 3-for-5 game with two home runs. Classmate Taryn Madlock worked four RBIs on two hits and a walk, as she and freshman Brookelynn Meador joined Mundine in launching balls out of the yard.
The Roadrunners again struck in the top of the first, with Madlock plating Wick on a sac fly.
Two more came across in the third, as Madlock walked, and Meador singled before the pair advanced into scoring position on a groundout. From there, Mundine laced a double into center field, scoring both for a 3-0 UTSA edge.
The Golden Hurricane responded with a run in the bottom of the third, and four more in the fourth flipped the script, resulting in a 5-3 Tulsa lead. The Golden Hurricane added four insurance runs in the sixth, increasing their advantage to six.
UTSA came storming back in the top of the seventh, with senior Caton Letbetter working a walk, and classmate Madison Lenton singling, ahead of back-to-back jacks by Madlock and Meador that trimmed the deficit to two. A base hit for Madrid followed, and a two-run bomb for Mundine knotted the contest, 9-9.
Looking to walk it off, the Golden Hurricane loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh. The batter worked a 3-1 count before Stoudt induced a groundout to escape the inning unscathed.
In the top of the eighth, UTSA sparked a two-out rally of their own, as Wick and Madlock both singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Meador walked to load the bases, but the ‘Runners were unable to push a run across, keeping the contest tied up at nine.
Mundine opened the ninth up with her second round-tripper, and a later Lenton triple knocked in senior Madison Hornback. Lenton scored herself on a Wick single for a 12-9 advantage.
Not to be deterred, Tulsa launched a two-run bomb in the home half, pulling within one. Stoudt then induced a groundout, and a final strikeout cemented a 12-11 comeback victory.
UTSA will wrap up the series on Sunday, with first pitch set for noon.
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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