GREENVILLE, N.C. — Despite a stellar performance at the plate by senior Erykah Guerrero, the UTSA softball team suffered a 4-3 setback at the hands of East Carolina in an American Athletic Conference series finale on Sunday at Max R. Joyner Stadium.
The Roadrunners (12-29, 3-12 The American) fell to the Pirates (29-11, 6-9 The American), as senior Jamie Gilbert (5-11) got pegged with the loss after rendering ECU hitless through the first four frames, and Taylor Apple (11-2) earned the win.
Finishing a triple shy of the cycle, Guerrero recorded all three of the 'Runners RBIs, and junior Jaylen Prichard joined her in logging hits on the afternoon.
UTSA struck first as Prichard singled in the top of the first before scoring on a sharply hit grounder by Guerrero. Later, in the third, Guerrero launched a two-run home run that plated sophomore Sophie Campbell and grew the UTSA advantage to three.
ECU took advantage of multiple hit batters to score a run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly that trimmed their deficit to two, and in the fifth, recorded their first hit of the day with a one-out double. Gilbert, however, remained unphased, working out of the jam and keeping the 3-1 Roadrunner lead intact.
The Pirates dropped a single into center to lead off the sixth before senior Taylor Jensen promptly gunned her down trying to swipe second. ECU then lifted a solo shot out of the yard, reflecting a 3-2 score line. The inning continued, with a single and a plunked batter putting runners on ahead of a single that knotted the contest.
UTSA was unable to score in their half of the seventh, and the Pirates sparked a two-out rally in the bottom of the frame, using a walk-off single to secure a 4-3 victory.
The 'Runners will now return to the Alamo City for a five-game home stretch beginning on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. matchup against Baylor on the docket.
Keep up with UTSA Softball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSASB, X (Twitter) @UTSASoftball, and on Instagram @utsasoftball.
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