MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The UTSA softball team (8-36, 3-15 C-USA) came just a couple of swings shy of victory in Friday's series opener at Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee (31-15, 10-8 C-USA), rallying in the final two innings to striking distance, but closing the night with the bases loaded in a 3-2 loss at Blue Raider Softball Stadium.
Turning out to be a difference-maker in Friday's outcome, the Blue Raiders got a lick in early, as star shortstop Laura Mealer homered within feet of the UTSA bus just beyond the center field wall with one out in the opening frame, garnering the initial 1-0 lead, before Marena Estell closed the inning with her second strikeout.
In the early going, Starter Gretchen Mead held the Roadrunners offense at bay, keeping it up until the opening batter of the fifth, when Camryn Robillard drove a single to left for the first base knock – creating some immediate traction for the UTSA offense.
After the initial second-batter setback, Estell settled in and kept the Blue Raiders checked for the next three frames. However, the Blue Raiders added some insurance as Shelby Echols barely slipped a two-run home run over Lindsey Davis' glove at the right field wall.
That shift in scoring propelled the Roadrunners into action. Finally getting to Mead, it was Robillard that delivered once again in the sixth. After Kat Ibarra caught the Blue Raiders sleeping on a first-pitch leadoff bunt, Estell sliced a standup double to the left field corner to set the table. Robillard cashed in on the opportunity with her first career triple, ricocheted off the wall in the deepest part of the field – slicing two off the Middle Tennessee lead.
The only thing stopping UTSA from knotting things up in the sixth was a run-saving grab by left fielder Savannah Behabetz, diving for the catch in the space just beyond third base.
After Estell shut down a sixth-inning Blue Raiders push, the Roadrunners worked into position to pull in front, loading up the bases with two outs off a Lilly Hood single, an Ibarra double and a Taylor Jensen nine-pitch walk. Earning her fifth save for MTSU, Kamryn Carchich halted UTSA's rally, inducing a Robillard pop-up to secure the 3-2 win for the Blue Raiders.
Estell (3-10) took the loss on a 6.0-inning appearance, allowing three runs on seven hits, notching three strikeouts. Mead (12-4) went 6.1 innings for the win, giving two runs on five hits before getting pulled in the seventh.
At the plate, Robillard was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Ibarra was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Roadrunners and Blue Raiders return to action on Saturday afternoon, taking on a 4:00 p.m. second game of the series at Blue Raider Softball Stadium.
-UTSA-
