SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Roadrunners softball team (8-38, 3-17 C-USA) is slated for the final weekend of the regular season within the confines of Roadrunner Field, hosting the Florida Atlantic Owls (30-18, 12-9 C-USA). It's Senior Weekend for the Roadrunners, who will be honoring seniors Ciarra Mata and Marena Estell following the third game of the series. The series will run Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7, and all three games will stream live on CUSA.tv.
About the Roadrunner Seniors
UTSA will honor both seniors in a ceremony joined by their family and guests following the third game of the series on Sunday.
- Marena Estell - Now in her fifth season with the program, Marena Estell joined the Roadrunners in 2019 from Hooks High School in Hooks, Texas. Though she was exclusively a pitcher in her rookie season, she blossomed into a highly effective utility player, logging 85 hits in 172 games, including 24 home runs and 14 doubles. She has 72 RBI and 52 runs of her own. In the circle, Estell has thrown 273 innings and struck out 134 batters in 104 appearances, earning 15 wins and 3 saves during her time as a Roadrunner.
- Ciarra Mata - A four-year player for UTSA, Mata has come on strong in the past two seasons as a staple in the lineup, specifically in left field. She came to UTSA in the 2020 season from Rosenburg, Texas and as a graduate of Richmond, Texas' Foster High School. She enters the weekend with 85 starts in 105 games, recording 48 hits with nine (9) doubles, two (2) home runs, 24 RBI and 36 runs scored. Mata has made 172 putouts and added six (6) assists during her UTSA career.
UTSA Quick Hits
- UTSA is 8-38 on the season and 6-10 at home. The Roadrunners are hitting .240 as a team with 6.22 hits, 3.83 walks and 3.52 runs per game.
- The Roadrunners battled to two close finishes in Murfreesboro, but suffered a road sweep at Middle Tennessee over the weekend, 2-3, 0-5, 1-3.
- One of only two players starting every game this year, there has been no player more consistent for the Roadrunners than junior shortstop Kat Ibarra.
- The Katy, Texas native leads UTSA's offense in BA (.364), hits (54), runs (31), doubles (12), triples (4), walks (21), slugging percentage (.552), on-base percentage (.440) and stolen bases (6)
- On defense, Ibarra has a team-high 68 assists (with 87 putouts), 10 double plays and has delivered the tag on eight (8) caught-stealing plays.
- Ibarra has the third-most career triples in UTSA history at nine (9) and is tied for the fourth-most in a UTSA season this year.
- The shortstop has received conference honors each season at UTSA and is potentially in line for her third accolades, garnering a 2023 Preseason All-Conference USA nod to start the year after being a 2022 C-USA first-teamer and a member of the 2021 C-USA All-Freshman Team.
- A steady part of the lineup, whether backing the battery or at first base, Melbourne, Fla. junior Taylor Jensen has been an important component since arriving as a two-time JUCO National Champion from Florida SouthWestern State College. Jensen leads the team with seven (7) home runs, batting .280 and tying for a team second-most 35 hits, including four (4) doubles, ringing up 14 runs and 18 RBI.
- The super senior, Estell was a member of the Preseason All-Conference USA team and leads the Roadrunners with 27 RBI while batting .289 with 17 runs and tying Jensen with 35 hits, including the second-most eight (8) doubles and six (6) home runs.
- The other player to start every game, sophomore third baseman Camryn Robillard has made some great swings lately and although batting .223, she has accrued 29 hits, including six (6) doubles, a triple and four (4) home runs. She has the second-most RBI at 21 and has also scored 16 runs.
- In the opener at Middle Tennessee last weekend, she hit 2-for-4 and accounted for both of UTSA's runs on a two-run triple – her first of the season.
- UTSA appears among the top 100 in several national rankings:
- Recording 17 total on the year, UTSA ranks 60th in the NCAA with 0.32 double plays per game.
- With 176 total free passes earned and 3.83 BB per game, UTSA ranks 26th nationally in walks drawn.
- UTSA led the NCAA in the stat for 14 days from late Feb. to mid-March.
- UTSA has the fourth-most homers among C-USA teams at 33 and the Roadrunners rank 88th in the NCAA with 0.72 home runs per game.
- Producing an NCAA 98th-most 58 two-baggers, the Roadrunners rank 95th in doubles per game with a 1.26 average.
- Several player performances also appear in the national rankings:
- Robillard has five (5) sac flies to tie for the lead spot in Conference USA and 15th in the NCAA.
- Estell's three (3) SF ranks 113th.
- Jamie Gilbert leads Conference USA and ranks 17th nationally in limiting hit batters, plunking two (2) batters in 70 innings.
- Ibarra ranks 84th in the nation with 54 hits, also coming in 70th in triples per game and 133rd in doubles per outing.
- Robillard has five (5) sac flies to tie for the lead spot in Conference USA and 15th in the NCAA.
- Cutting Close…the Roadrunners have seen their share of close losses this season. UTSA has engaged in 16 one-run contests with seven (7) more decided by two runs – a clean 50 percent of games this season.
- In that set of games, UTSA saw 20 of their losses. A few plays in the opposite direction could have completely inverted a sizable chunk of the season record.
Series vs. Florida Atlantic
The Roadrunners and Owls will meet for the 18th time to start the series on Friday. The Owls have commanded the lopsided series that dates back to just 2015, holding a 16-1 edge. UTSA won their lone game in 2015 on the finale in Boca Raton, and have since dropped 14 straight contests in the series.
Florida Atlantic Quick Hits
- Very similar to the last foe (Middle Tennessee), the Owls are 30-18 and hold a 12-9 mark in Conference USA play. The Owls are hitting .256 as a team, logging averages of 6.88 hits, 2.23 walks and 3.44 runs per game.
- The FAU pitching staff has been an important factor in the 2023 record, holding an NCAA 17th-best 2.00 staff ERA and limiting opponents to 5.77 hits and 2.50 runs per outing.
- FAU is coming off taking a sweep at the hands of North Texas – two in extra innings – in Boca. The week prior, they dropped a road series, 2-1, at Western Kentucky.
- Junior outfielder Cammeo Presutti is a clear offensive standout for the Owls, leading with a team-high .329 average, topping FAU with 53 hits and 29 runs.
- Freshman Jesiana Mora is good for extra bases, batting .286 with nine (9) doubles, four (4) triples and a home. She's got 22 runs and 17 RBI.
- Junior Olivia Peterson leads in doubles (11), home runs (6) and RBI (28), also scoring 16 runs.
- Sophomore Gabby Sacco is the staff ace with a 1.40 ERA and an 18-6 record in 26 appearances (25 starts) – logging 150 innings and 86 strikeouts.
- Head coach Jordan Clark is in her first season at FAU, following four years as an assistant coach at Ohio State.
Series Game Coverage: UTSA vs. Florida Atlantic
Friday, May 5, 6:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
Saturday, May 6, 1:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
Sunday, May 6, 1:00 p.m.
Stream: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: UTSA
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