UTSA softball lost its weekend series against Wichita State University after suffering a 13-5 blowout Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (14-16, 2-7 AAC) pitching staff failed to stop the Shockers (15-15, 4-5 AAC) on offense. They allowed 13 earned runs through five innings where the series finale ended by way of the run-rule. The bottom of the third inning sealed the fate for UTSA, leaving two runners on base after a bases-loaded two-run single by junior infielder Katia Reyes.
“They were going hard for a little while,” coach Vann Stuedeman said of the offense after the game. “They gave us a chance for sure. Bases loaded with one out, that was definitely a missed opportunity right there. But they still gave us a chance to win, and we didn’t do it.”
The Shockers drew first blood after freshman pitcher Ava Eldridge surrendered a three-run home run to Wichita State infielder Camryn Compton, giving Wichita State an early 4-0 lead. In the same inning, infielder Krystin Nelson hit a pitch through the left side of the infield to push the score to 5-0.
With runners on first and second base for Wichita State, UTSA freshman pitcher Kaylie Olivarez took over for Eldridge and closed the inning by forcing a groundout to first base.
The Roadrunners continued to battle thanks to freshman catcher Makayla Madrid, who launched a two-run home run over center field, cutting their deficit to three.
“She is a born hitter,” Stuedeman said of Madrid. “She’s got great hand-eye coordination. She has a ton of confidence. We could definitely build our offense around her.”
“[I’m] just trusting the process,” Madrid said. “Not every at-bat is going to be perfect. There’s going to be times where I go 0-4. There’s going to be times I go 4-4. It all just goes back to me [and] relying back on my teammates too and knowing they also have my back regardless of my outcome.”
The Shockers’ aggressive approach led to them loading the bases again in the second. Two sacrifice flies from Compton and catcher Gabby Scott put Wichita State up by five.
UTSA was unable to contain Wichita State’s bats. The ‘Runners allowed three straight hits including an RBI single from outfielder Lauren Lucas in the third frame. But the Shockers were not done yet, Compton hit another three-run home run to extend their lead to nine.
The Roadrunners responded that same inning due to Madrid getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and a two-run single up the middle from Reyes.
After tossing a scoreless fourth inning, sophomore pitcher Meredith Schmitt allowed a two-run home run to utility Taylor Sedlacek in the fifth. Wichita State outmatched UTSA offensively, earning 13 hits in 23 at-bats compared to UTSA’s mere six hits in 20 at-bats. Senior utility Jaylen Prichard led the ‘Runners in hits with two; Madrid and Reyes led in RBIs with three and two respectively. The Roadrunners rotation allowed 13 runs on 13 hits while walking five batters.
UTSA will next face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.
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