HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Thursday's softball Opening Day outcome all came down to a decisive, hitting-packed seventh inning between the UTSA Roadrunners (0-1) and Sam Houston Bearkats (1-0) to kick off the Bearkat Classic. Although the Roadrunners racked up a formidable lead late, Sam Houston's final-frame long ball hitting amounted to seven runs as the Bearkats rallied an 11-10 walk-off win.
A tight contest throughout, the game remained up for grabs into the final inning, featuring three ties and an identical number of lead changes. The 2023 campaign's lid-lifter had ample hitting to go around. The teams combined for 25 hits, including six home runs, two triples and three doubles – amounting to 20 combined RBI.
From the opening frame of the 2023 campaign, the Roadrunners went right to work on offense, converting a Kat Ibarra leadoff walk for a run via freshman right fielder Lilly Hood's RBI single up the middle. However, the Bearkats were quick to respond with a game-tying Brailey Wasik home run in the home half.
Again in the second, UTSA converted with runners aboard, claiming a 2-1 lead on a Camryn Robillard sacrifice fly. Although Sam Houston loaded up the bases, UTSA silenced the response as Ibarra and Robillard combined to put away the 6-4-3 double play.
The Roadrunners couldn't recreate the same stop in the third frame, as Wasik added another RBI on a sacrifice fly for the game's second tie at 2-2.
Gaining the upper hand for the first time, Sam Houston used a trio of fourth-inning base hits, including a pair of triples, to swing a two-run advantage and force starter Jamie Gilbert out of the circle in favor of Kenzi Schultz' UTSA debut to close out the inning.
UTSA took no time to worry about the deficit, as freshman Kylie Forney belted her first career home run beyond the right center fence to slice the lead to a single run in the top of the fifth. The Roadrunners capitalized on three subsequent free passes, recording the opener's third tie on pinch hitter Emily Dear's RBI single to left field. The tie wouldn't stand long with a single out and the bases loaded, as Ciarra Mata drove an RBI single up the middle, granting freshman pinch runner Caton Letbetter her first career score.
UTSA created a two-run advantage before the fifth frame closed, as Dear scored on an error at third base to push ahead 6-4.
Down the stretch, UTSA's offensive outburst in the seventh made it look like the Roadrunners were home free, racking up four additional runs on five hits in their final pass at the plate. UTSA batted around in the frame, initiated by pinch hitter Madison Lenton's leadoff single. Ibarra followed suit and Erykah Guerrero cashed the pair in with a three run bomb to center field – her 10th career home run. Forney and Hood added singles, while Sammy Dees wore a pitch to load the bases, setting up Sophie Campbell for an RBI walk and a 10-4 UTSA advantage.
However, the Bearkats came out swinging with the game on the line, Brodie Quinlan and Tricia Yarotsky each registering two-run homers to set up first baseman Kylie Hobbs for a three-run shot to secure the walk-off for Sam Houston.
Despite the loss, UTSA notched 11 hits, led by Hood's 3-for-4 career debut with one run and one RBI, as well as Forney's 2-for-4, two-run, one-RBI career introduction. Eight Roadrunners recorded a hit in the opener with eight different players scoring. Eight newcomers made their debut for UTSA among 17 players who saw the field on Thursday.
SHSU's Daryn Grams (1-0) earned the win after securing the final two outs in the seventh. The loss went to Tatum Seith (0-1).
The Roadrunners return to action on Friday, continuing play at the Bearkat Classic with games against Delaware (10:00 a.m.) and Northwestern State (3:00 p.m.) at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
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