UTSA Softball notched a 13-8 victory against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
A barrage of hits in the third and fifth innings along with two home runs from senior outfielder Lindsey Davis — on nearly the same day she recorded a two-homer game last season against the University of Charlotte — helped push the Roadrunners (16-24, 3-14 AAC) past the Blazers (18-23, 7-10 AAC). UTSA erased an early six-run deficit, scoring five runs in the third inning to tie the game and another five in the fifth inning to take control.
“It was kind of weird because I hit two home runs last year on the same weekend,” Davis said of the unusual coincidence of her standout performance. “So when it happened again, I was just like, ‘Woah.’”
Despite early defensive struggles, the ‘Runners offense responded quickly after falling behind 7-1. In the bottom of the third, junior pitcher Katia Reyes singled in freshman infielder Skylar Rucker before senior utility Crislyne Moreno doubled to bring home sophomore catcher Kalee Rochinski. Freshman utility Sabrina Wick followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to two. Junior utility Madison Hornback capped off the comeback with her first home run in a UTSA uniform, a two-run shot to center field that tied the game 7-7.
After the Blazers regained a one-run lead in the top of the fourth, they were held to one run for the final four innings. Sophomore pitcher Meredith Schmitt and a more stable defensive effort kept the visitors from finding momentum late, with a key groundout ending the top of the fifth.
“I think we just stayed locked in and didn’t let the score get in our heads,” Rochinski said. “We trusted each other and kept fighting back.”
Davis tied the game in the fifth with a solo home run to left field. The Roadrunners followed with five more hits in the inning. Sophomore outfielder Taryn Madlock and Rucker singled, and Rochinski gave UTSA its first lead of the day with an RBI single. Reyes then doubled to bring home two more and Moreno added another RBI single to give the ‘Runners a 12-8 advantage. It marked the second time in the game that UTSA scored five or more runs in a single inning.
The Blazers threatened in the sixth with a pair of hits, but a double play from Hornback kept the inning scoreless. Davis added one final insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, with her second solo homer of the day — again to left field — making it 13-8.
“We talk a lot about how one good at-bat leads to another,” coach Vann Stuedeman said. “I think today we really saw that in action.”
The Roadrunners recorded a season-high 15 hits. Davis collected three, while Rucker, Reyes, Moreno and Robillard each contributed two.
UTSA will face Alabama-Birmingham at 1 p.m. Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
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