SAN ANTONIO – A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh lifted UTSA to a 7-6 win over the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team tonight at Roadrunner Field. After an early back-and-forth battle, senior Lindsey Lyles cranked her second career grand slam in the top of the fifth to push the Islanders ahead, but a pair of home runs in the final frame gave UTSA the win.
The Islanders' (0-10-1) bats ignited for 10 hits in the game led by sophomore Jessica Mendez who went 3-for-4. Sophomores Liz Carter and Brittney Morse went 2-for-3 while Lyles and Morse each registered the Islanders' first two home runs of the season. Senior Mickayla Cochran added a double and senior Hayley Galloway added a hit for the Islanders.
The Roadrunners (8-3) also tallied 10 hits, including five home runs in the game and were led by Vivian Tijerina and Courtney Buchman who went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs.
The Islanders' bats caught fire in the opening frame with four hits to take an early 2-0 lead. With one out, Mendez ripped an infield single to second base before Morse stepped to the plate. With a 1-1 count, the sophomore cranked her first home run of the season and ninth career shot over the center field wall to score Mendez and put the Islanders on the board. After Carter struck out swinging, Cochran nailed her third double of the season down the left field line and Galloway followed suit with an infield single to put runners on the corners. However, the Roadrunners pulled out of the jam as pitcher Kacy Freeze recorded her second strikeout of the frame.
UTSA quickly answered back in the bottom of the first with four runs on four hits to garner a 4-2 lead. With out one, Buchman hit a home run over the right center wall to put the Roadrunners on the board. After a single to left field by Megan Low, UTSA's Tijerina hit a two-run home run over the center field wall to score Low. The Islanders then recorded the second out of the frame after a fly out, but Tess Soefje hit the Roadrunners' third home run of the frame with a shot to left center to give UTSA a 4-2 lead. The Islanders pulled out of the jam with a ground out.
After a quick second inning, the Islanders put runners in scoring position in the top of the third but were unable to score. Mendez led off the frame with the Islanders' fifth hit of the game with an infield single and she swiped second on a wild pitch as Morse struck out swinging. Carter then reached on a hit by pitch to put Islanders on first and second for Cochran. The senior hit a ground out to second base to advance Carter to second and Mendez to third, but UTSA's Freeze recorded her fourth strikeout of the game to end the Islanders' threat.
The Islanders' bats came alive again in the top of the fifth to score four runs on four hits. Mendez, Morse and Carter all hit a trio of singles to the outfield to load the bases before Chelsea Parker replaced Freeze in the UTSA circle. Parker then recorded her first strikeout of the game before Galloway reached on a fielder's choice as Mendez was called out at home. With bases loaded once again and two outs, Lyles stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam over the center field wall to clear the bases and put the Islanders ahead, 6-4. It marked Lyles' fifth career home run and second grand slam of her career.
UTSA responded with a run on two hits in the bottom of the fifth to trim the Islanders' lead to one at 6-5. Jade Smith led off the frame with an infield single and advanced to second on an Islanders' throwing error. After a line out, Buchman hit a double down the left field line to score Smith for the Roadrunners' fifth run of the game. After a walk, Carter retired the side, leaving Roadrunners on first and second.
The Islanders loaded the bases in the top of the seventh after Morse reached on a walk to start the frame and Carter followed with the Islanders' 10th hit of the game with a single through the middle. However, UTSA stranded the Islanders after Lyles was hit by the pitch to load the bases and freshman Ashleigh Perez grounded out.
UTSA rallied back in the bottom of the seventh with three hits and two runs to win. After a fly out, Buchman hit her second home run of the game with a solo shot over the left center wall to knot the game at 6-6. After a single by Low, Tefft picked up the assist on the 7-4 putout as Low tried to advance to second. With two outs, Tijerina on a 1-2 count hit a walk-off home run over the left field wall to lift the Roadrunners to a 7-6 win.
The Islanders will remain on the road as they head to Houston for the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic on Feb. 20-22. The Islanders will play a total of five games against New Mexico, Illinois and host Houston.
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