SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – One day after losing by 12 runs to UTSA, the University of the Incarnate Word softball team pushed the Roadrunners to extra innings before losing 7-6 at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (12-4) jumped out to a big early lead. They scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run homer by Randee Crawford. They added single runs in the next three innings to take a 6-0 lead after four innings.
The Cardinals (1-12) stormed back in the top of the fifth inning.
Kellen Robles started the inning with a double and went to third on
Lindsey Hood's (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) single. After one out,
Katie Helm (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) drove in the first run of the inning with a single.
Shelbi Swenson followed with an RBI single and then
Alex Alonzo's sacrifice fly cut the lead in half. An error kept the inning alive and then
Natali Duron tied the game with a three-run homer.
The Roadrunners nearly won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jade Smith hit a two-out triple, but was stranded.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Cardinals put runners on second and third, but could not bring a run home. The game was played under the extra-innings rule where a runner started a second to start the inning. UTSA bunted their runner to third base and after a walk, they won the game on a sacrifice fly by Vivian Tijerina.
The Cardinals finished the game with 12 hits. Robles, Helm, Swenson and Duron each had two hits.
Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) pitched a complete game for UIW and was tagged with the loss. She allowed five earned runs and four walks while striking out four.
The Roadrunner pounded out 14 hits in the game. Megan Low, Crawford and Smith each had three hits apiece. Nicole Merrill was credited with the victory after pitching the final three innings in relief. She allowed one hit, one walk and no runs while striking out two.
The Cardinals are back in action next weekend at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic on Friday and Saturday.
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