UTSA softball lost 5-3 to the University of Arlington at Texas Tuesday at Allan Saxe Field.
The Roadrunners (12-10, 3-0 AAC) took to the field and kicked off spring break with an early lead. The Mavericks (12-9, 2-1 WAC) quickly responded with four runs in two innings that set the ‘Runners back for the game’s remainder despite scoring two runs in the final inning.
“We have a fighting mentality to never quit, and it’s gonna show up; it’s gonna pay off, but it just didn’t pay off today,” coach Vann Stuedeman said of the loss.
Freshman infielder Skylar Rucker and senior utility Jaylen Prichard kicked off the game when Prichard hit an RBI triple down the left-field line. Rucker, who on a one-out steal walked to first base, stole second before advancing to third and home plate to score 1-0.
Back-to-back singles from freshman utility Sabrina Wick and Rucker put the Roadrunners on second and first base in the top of the seventh. The pair advanced when Prichard hit a ground ball and freshman catcher Makayla Madrid proved that the ‘Runners would not go out without a fight. Madrid launched a ball to right field, and Texas-Arlington utility Elizabeth Baylor caught the ball only for it to bounce out of her glove as Rucker and Wick scored.
“All you can ask is to get the tying run up to the plate in the last inning, and that’s what we had,” Stuedeman said. “Rochinski was the representative of the fifth run, and that would have tied it up. You just have to get to the plate and hope it falls.”
UTSA picked up eight hits to the Mavericks’ five. However, Texas-Arlington was more efficient at the plate, with all five of their hits resulting in RBIs. The ‘Runners had seven different players register hits, with Wick being the only player to get multiple.
Stuedeman rolled out the same pitching rotation she used when UTSA played its first game against conference opponent East Carolina University. Freshman pitcher Kaylie Olivarez subbed in for sophomore Meredith Schmitt during the first inning before freshman pair Reagan Stoudt and Ava Eldridge took over.
“We got almost all the pitchers out there, and they got some good reps in, so it’s a good warm-up before getting on the road to Memphis this week,” Stuedeman said.
UTSA will travel to Tennessee to close spring break with a three-game series against Memphis University. Game one will be played at 6 p.m. Friday at Tiger Softball Complex.
