· Box score
SAN ANTONIO – Central Arkansas fell behind early on Saturday and never recovered in a 12-4 loss to UTSA in Southland Conference baseball action at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners, 12-11 overall and a perfect 5-0 in league play, scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed. UTSA made the most of its 16 hits, which included three home runs, two by junior Ryan Saltzgaber. UCA got only four runs from its 12 hits.
The Bears found themselves down 6-1 after three innings but got one back in the top of the fourth on Payton Seelinger's RBI double to right field. However, the Roadrunners had back-to-back triples in the bottom of the inning and pushed their lead to 8-2.
Central Arkansas put together a short rally in the eighth inning when San Antonio native Matt Warren hit a two-run home run that scored catcher Eric Tennyson, who had singled up the middle. UCA got another man on base in the inning when Kent Taylor singled, but pinch-hitter Chris Houk hit a hard liner to third base that turned into an inning-ending double play.
Taylor, getting only his third start of the season in left field, went 4-for-4 to lead the Bears offense. Senior Craig Nyborg continued his hot streak at the plate by going 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the third inning.
Senior Michael Rockett paced the Roadrunners, going 4-for-4, which tied a career high, while Saltzgaber 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
UCA starter Daniel Price, who battled an injury for the past week, lasted only two-thirds of an inning and picked up the loss. Bradley Chovanec went seven innings for UTSA and got the win, allowing eight hits and striking out six.
The final game of the series will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
