SAN ANTONIO – A late four-run rally allowed UTSA softball to pull off a miraculous 6-4 comeback victory over Prairie A&M University on Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (19-15, 7-2 AC) found themselves trailing early after giving up three runs to the Panthers (17-12, 9-0 WAC) in the third inning. Down 4-2 heading into the sixth, UTSA registered three hits, three walks and scored four consecutive runs. Sophomore infielder Sabrina Wick secured the lead for UTSA, reaching on a Panther error and allowing two runners to score. A late RBI double from freshman catcher Brookelynn Meador sealed the game for UTSA, giving the team a two-run lead the Panthers failed to overcome.
“It was just a real-big gut out,” coach Vann Stuedeman said. “I’m real proud of the girls to be able to gut it out. They played really well, and I’m just glad we had the last at-bat.”
After loading the bases on three straight walks, sophomore outfielder Skylar Rucker got things started in the sixth with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. In the next at-bat, Wick reached on an error, allowing senior shortstop Katia Reyes and Rucker to score and take a one-run lead. Meador then confidently stepped up to the plate and smashed a ball down the right field line for an RBI double, which brought in Wick. The run was the fourth of the inning, and gave the ‘Runners a two-run cushion headed into the seventh.
“It felt really good to get back in the game,” Meador said. “I kind of let myself get in my head early, but coach Vann came up to me, and it kind of just showed me that I needed to get back into it.”
UTSA trailed for the majority of the contest after giving up three runs in the third. The Panthers quickly scored two runs after two Roadrunner errors, and a wild pitch from sophomore pitcher Reagan Stoudt allowed Panthers outfielder Maritza Martinez to score, putting the ‘Runners at a 3-2 disadvantage. After failing to register a run in the bottom of the third, Prairie View scored again in the fourth, before an RBI double from Panthers left fielder Mia Nunez extended the deficit to two.
“We’ve got to take care of the ball a little bit better for sure,” Stuedeman said. “Errors killed us tonight. I think we were just a little overaggressive.”
The Roadrunners will take on Florida Atlantic University at 5 p.m. Friday at the FAU Softball Stadium.
