RELATED LINKSBox scorePhoto galleryUpdated 2012 season statisticsBox score (.pdf)Updated 2012 season statistics (.pdf)
SAN ANTONIO — UTSA hit three home runs, including two from senior Matthew James, but it was not enough, as Northwestern State pounded out 26 hits and rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat the Roadrunners, 20-17, on Saturday at the Bird Bath.
UTSA (9-10, 1-4 SLC) plated seven runs in the third to grab a 12-4 advantage, but the Demons (7-11, 4-1 SLC) exploded for nine with two outs in the next frame to go up, 13-12.
The Roadrunners scored single tallies in the fourth and fifth to go ahead by a run.
After both teams plated a pair in the sixth, Northwestern State used a three-run seventh to take the lead for good.
The Demons, who scored in seven different innings and tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, received solid efforts out of the bullpen from Zach Winchester and Mason Melotakis.
Winchester (2-0) faced only four batters but received the win after holding the Birds scoreless in two-thirds of a frame, but Mason Melotakis earned his third save of the spring after allowing just one run on a hit, while striking out three in the final three panels.
James, who led UTSA's 21-hit attack, hammered solo round-trippers in both the second and ninth innings and finished 4-for-6 with three RBIs. Senior Casey Selsor also went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and he also stole two bases. Meanwhile, junior Ryan Dalton was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and freshman John Bormann posted three hits and drove in a pair.
Colin Bear was 4-for-6 with a homer and five RBIs, while Will Watson also collected four hits for Northwestern State. Nick Hinojos added a pair of hits, including a grand slam in the nine-run fourth, and drove in five.
Junior Clint Sharp (1-4) allowed five runs on seven hits and walked one in 3.1 innings of relief.
The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday.