The UTSA softball team traveled to Beaumont, Texas, on Feb. 22, to compete in the Cardinal Classic. The ‘Runners went undefeated for the weekend, clenching a 9-6 record for the season.
The Roadrunners kicked off the Classic with a 6-5 win over the Maine Black Bears. The ‘Runners scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Sophomore Celeste Loughman hit a single and advanced to second base, sending junior Kylea Nix and sophomore Brycen Blinco across home plate to put the ‘Runners on the board. After Maine tied the game in the top of the third, junior Elexus Trenkle scored off a sacrifice fly to put the ‘Runners in a 3-2 lead at the close of the third. The Roadrunners increased their lead in the fourth after a hit from senior Bailee Baldwin, sending Loughman home. The Black Bears took the lead in the seventh. Baldwin stepped to the plate and scored her third home run of the season to tie the game. Trenkle hit a single, sending the ‘Runners into home which ended the game with a 6-5 win.
The ‘Runners then faced the Rhode Island Rams, scoring 10 runs off 10 hits. The Rams were first on the board with two runs at the bottom of the first. A double from freshman catcher Kindell Brooks and a single from Loughman tied the game at the top of the second. The Rams reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, freshman Riley Grunberg hit her first homerun of the season to right field, tying the game 2-2. The ‘Runners had two more runs in the fourth and increased the lead to seven in the top of the seventh inning. Three walks for the Roadrunners sent runners Brooks, Blinco and Paige Pacher over home plate. After a pitching change for the Rams, Grunberg scored off a single from Trenkle, ending the game with a season high six runs in and inning.
The ‘Runners rematched with the Rams on Feb. 23, in a shutout game. Freshman Madison Nelson pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, Baldwin batted in Loughman which increased the score to 3-0. Trenkle reached on an error, advancing to second as sophomore Victoria Villarreal scored. The ‘Runners held the lead for the next three innings, ending the game with a 4-0 win.
The ‘Runners ended the day with a 3-0 shutout against the Black Bears. A triple from Patcher followed by a single from Loughman put the ‘Runners on the board, ending the inning 2-0. The Roadrunners added another run in the seventh off a double from Villarreal and an error that advanced the ‘Runners, ending the game 3-0.
The Beaumont Cardinals had two hits against the ‘Runners in the 9-0 shutout game on Feb. 24. Nelson achieved her fifth win of the season after pitching five innings, ending the game with the run-rule. Loughman hit a single and advanced off an error, scoring Villarreal to put UTSA on the board. Baldwin added another hit for the ‘Runners in the fourth, sending Loughman and Pacher to home. The second run came from freshman Kaitlin Lopez as Baldwin reached home. The Roadrunners only allowed one hit from the Cardinals. In the fifth, Loughman hit a sacrifice fly which sent Blinco to home, Baldwin scored and hit a triple as a single from Grunberg advanced the ‘Runners lead. Lopez added two more runs, increasing the score gap to 8-0. Trenkle closed the game with a single to score Lopez, sweeping the tournament 5-0 with three shutouts. This is the first time UTSA has swept a tournament since 2005.
Find the ‘Runners back in action as they travel to Fullerton, Calif., on Feb. 28, to compete in the Judi Garman Classic.
