SAN ANTONIO – Everything was coming up Roadrunners in Wednesday's one-sided UTSA (8-32) victory over UIW (13-24-1) at H-E-B Field. Providing plentiful run support to a multi-pitcher shutout via a season-high four home runs, UTSA carried an all-around complete game from start to finish for a 7-0 non-conference road victory in the cross-town series.
Super senior designated player Marena Estell set an outstanding first-inning standard for the Roadrunners, smacking a one-out double to get UTSA moving. Two batters later and working with two outs, sophomore third baseman Camryn Robillard made the effort worthwhile, plating two scores on a no-doubt home run ripped to left field for a 2-0 UTSA lead in the opening frame.
Though the second inning was a quiet frame for the Roadrunners, Estell's second time at the plate was more than just the setup when she came around in the third, blasting a three-run homer beyond right field to bring in Rylie Giddens and Kat Ibarra for a 5-0 advantage.
The Roadrunners loaded the bases in the fourth, but couldn't cash it in. However, the next time around, junior first baseman Taylor Jensen smacked a full count solo home run to center field, reminiscent of her walk-off solo shot to defeat the Cardinals during the February meeting at Roadrunner Field. That wasn't the only work for Jensen, who then led off the top of the seventh with yet another solo shot boomed out to left field to cap off a commanding 7-0 UTSA victory – becoming the first Roadrunner this year to deliver a multi-homer game.
Although the four home runs draw all the attention, the four-player shutout pitching effort shouldn't be overshadowed. Opening up with a short-outing start, Reagan Smith (4-13) earned the win after setting the tone early, allowing two hits with two strikeouts in her 2.0-inning appearance. Jamie Gilbert followed with one hit and two strikeouts in 3.0 innings before handing off to both Kenzi Schultz and Estell for a scoreless inning apiece.
Over the past four outings, the Roadrunners pitching staff have combined for a 0.73 earned run average, holding the opposition too 4.25 hits over four games with a .177 batting average.
Back to the UTSA offense, Estell went 3-for-4 to lead the Roadrunners, racking up three RBI and two runs. Jensen went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. The pair accounted for five of UTSA's nine hits.
The victory secures a full sweep of the Cardinals this season, earning their fourth consecutive win at H-E-B Field, toppling UIW in six of the last seven.
The Roadrunners' weekly plans remain in San Antonio, as UTSA hosts UAB in a three-game Conference USA series at Roadrunner Field, Friday, April 21 to Sunday April 23. The Blazers (22-21, 9-6 C-USA) defeated Samford on Wednesday before heading to Texas.
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