SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The UTSA softball team (5-17, 1-0 C-USA) celebrated a consequential win on Friday night at Roadrunner field, battling behind a stalwart all-around effort by junior shortstop Kat Ibarra to down the UTEP Miners (8-13, 0-1 C-USA) on the opening night of Conference USA action.
The Roadrunners came out swinging as Ibarra collected the first of three important hits with a leadoff single slipped between the right-side fielders. Two batters later, super senior Marena Estell blasted an RBI single deep to right center that scratched Ibarra across the plate for the first UTSA score. Madison Lenton brought home a walked Lilly Hood for the early 2-0 advantage.
After shutting down the Miners for the opening two frames and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third, Estell allowed UTEP to get some traction in the fourth. Third baseman Pate Cathey fired a line shot that ricocheted off Camryn Robillard's glove at third to score Anna Sample. Lexi Morales added an RBI walk to knot the score at 2-2.
The Roadrunners were quick to push back, as junior catcher Erykah Guerrero led off the fourth with a single, senior left fielder Ciarra Mata matched the effort and Ibarra brought both home on a two-run double down the left center alley.
It looked like the tides could be shifting against the Roadrunners in the fifth, as the bases loaded up and ended the pitching portion for Estell. UTEP catcher Caitlyn Brockaway got the best of reliever Kenzi Schultz with a grand slam beyond left field that vaulted the Miners ahead 6-4. However, Schultz and the Roadrunners worked out of any additional damage, readying a counter-offensive in the home half.
The counter-punch was swift. Robillard belted the third pitch she saw from Mackenzee Collins out of left field, trimming the deficit to a single run on her second home run of the year. After getting aboard, both Guerrero and Mata advanced to scoring position with instinctive baserunning, setting the table for Ibarra's hard grounder through the right side that produced the 6-6 tie and then the lead. Ibarra easily coasted home for the second time, as Taylor Jensen threaded the needle down the right field line with an RBI single. Lenton capped off the 9-6 victory for UTSA with a fielder's choice that scored pinch runner Lindsey Davis.
In total, Ibarra matched career highs in RBI and runs with a 3-for-5, four-RBI, two-run effort, while registering one steal. She also made two assists and put away two runners. Estell was 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Robillard was 2-for-4 and both Guerrero and Mata each scored twice.
Collecting the pitching victory in relief, Reagan Smith (2-5) threw the final two innings and allowed just one hit and one walk. Taking the loss for UTEP, Collins (0-3) tossed 1.1 frames, giving four hits and four walks for five runs.
Snapping a three-game losing skid from last weekend in Memphis, the Roadrunners open the C-USA slate on a victory for the first time since 2019 and will return to action against the Miners at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
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