SAN ANTONIO — UTSA softball fell to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 8-3 on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (23-28, 11-12 AC) struggled defensively and on the mound. Neither team scored in the first inning, but Charlotte took a 5-0 lead after the 49ers catcher Audrey Wilson smashed a two-run home run in the second. The 49ers (27-24, 11-12 AC) chased sophomore starting pitcher Reagan Stoudt out after the second, forcing the Roadrunners to utilize their bullpen early. Sophomore pitcher Kaylie Olivarez checked in for Stoudt before freshman pitcher Aubrey Flores made an appearance. The Roadrunners scored three runs in the fifth and sixth, but were unable to complete the comeback.
“The whole team’s mindset has been big about winning; we are looking to get a bye in the tournament,” sophomore utility Sabrina Wick said after the game. “That’s one of our big goals, so a big focus for today was playing competitively on every single pitch.”
In the second, Charlotte scored its first three runs off a throwing error from junior outfielder Taryn Madlock and a two-run double from 49ers outfielder London Dirks. Charlotte stretched its lead to five with Wilson’s homer, closing out the second. The 49ers added two insurance runs across the third and fourth.
The Roadrunners picked up their first score in the fifth after freshman utility Brookelyn Meador knocked an RBI single into left field, scoring sophomore outfielder Skylar Rucker. In the sixth, UTSA loaded the bases with Wick due up. Wick drove a two-run single through the right side in the infield, scoring senior outfielder Madison Lenton and senior infielder Caton Letbetter.
Once Flores began to pitch for UTSA, the Roadrunners were able to keep the 49ers off the scoreboard until the seventh inning, where Charlotte infielder Jenna Lord homered. It was clear after this point that UTSA could not make a comeback. The Roadrunners could not muster up any offense in the seventh, sealing the loss.
Rucker and Wick led the team in hits with two apiece; Wick led in RBIs with two. As a team, the Roadrunners slugged .280 at the plate with zero strikeouts. Stoudt received the loss on the mound after giving up the second-inning five-spot.
