SAN ANTONIO — Senior Day ended in heartbreak for UTSA softball as the team lost its final home game of the season 8-6 to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Sunday at Roadrunner Field in extra innings.
The Roadrunners (23-29, 11-13 AC) were unable to cap off senior farewell celebrations with a victory, as the 49ers (28-24, 12-12 AC) hit two home runs in the final two innings to come out on top. Leading 4-2 in the seventh inning, UTSA had Charlotte down to its last out of the game, but the 49ers hit a no-doubt grand slam to turn the game around and take their own two-run lead. After the shock, UTSA rallied to extend Senior Day in the bottom of the frame. The ‘Runners loaded the bases with no outs, allowing sophomore infielder Makayla Madrid to ground into a double play and score the tying runner from third. In the top of the eighth, freshman pitcher Arlette Hernandez again tallied two outs against the 49ers’ lineup, and again Charlotte hit a home run to take a two-run lead. UTSA had run out of fight, as the ‘Runners surrendered in successive order in the bottom of the eighth to end the contest.
Sunday marked the final game at Roadrunner Field for four UTSA seniors. Infielder Katia Reyes, infielder Caton Letbetter, outfielder Madison Lenton and utility Madison Hornback were commemorated pregame with their families in attendance, and each player threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
After throwing nine innings in an extra-innings walk-off victory Friday night, Hernandez returned to the mound as the starter on Sunday. Sophomore utility Sabrina Wick hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Roadrunners a 3-0 lead. After Charlotte cut the lead to one run in the fifth, freshman outfielder Demiree Stafford scored on a Charlotte throwing error to provide an insurance run in the sixth inning. UTSA entered the final inning leading by two runs, and a win would have gained the series victory over an opponent tied in the conference standings with the ‘Runners. Instead, UTSA sits directly behind Charlotte in seventh place in the American Conference heading into the final series of the season.
Hernandez finished the game with 149 total pitches thrown, after hurling 156 on Friday night. The 49ers tallied six hits, eight walks and four strikeouts against the freshman. Wick led the team with two RBIs, and Lenton was the only senior to hit an RBI on Sunday. UTSA outhit the 49ers 8-6, and struck out once compared to four times for the 49ers.
UTSA travels to play its final conference series against East Carolina University, with the first game starting Friday at 4 p.m. at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.
