| Senior Jeff Taliaferro's two-run double in the sixth helped snap UTSA's three-game losing streak on Wednesday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — UTSA scored three runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by senior Jeff Taliaferro's two-run double to left center with two out, and the Roadrunners snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory against Iowa on Wednesday night at Wolff Stadium.
The Birds (8-7) got back above the .500 mark with their eighth win of the season, while the Hawkeyes (4-10) dropped their seventh consecutive contest and ninth in the last 11 outings overall.
"This was a good win for us tonight," head coach Sherman Corbett said after the game. "I thought we played well in all three phases of the game and it was nice to come back to San Antonio with a victory. This should give us a good foundation for this weekend's series with UTA."
After Iowa posted a two-spot in the sixth to go in front, 2-1, UTSA responded with three runs on three hits to take the lead for good.
Senior Ryan Rummel stroked a one-out triple off the wall in right and junior Brett Aguilar then punched an RBI single through the right side of the infield to bring the Uvalde native across the plate. Freshman Jake Wood walked two hitters later and Taliaferro followed with a liner that just got over the head of Iowa left fielder Trevor Willis.
That made a winner of right-handed reliever Taylor Walton (2-1), who gave up a run on three hits and struck out a pair in his two innings of work. Junior righty Kevin Clarke allowed just a two-out walk in the ninth for his third save of the spring.
Nick Brown (0-2) surrendered four runs on three hits and five walks in 5.2 panels and was charged with the loss. He struck out a half dozen Roadrunners.
UTSA jumped out a 1-0 advantage in the fourth on freshman Ryan Dalton's sacrifice fly to right, which plated junior Ryan Hutson, who walked to lead off the frame. However, the Hawkeyes responded two frames later on Ryan Durant's RBI double with one out and Dan Sheppard's run-scoring base hit two batters later.
Right-hander Mike Pierce got the start on the mound for the Birds and he retired all nine hitters he faced on just 37 pitches.
Durant went 2-for-4 to lead Iowa‘s offense.
The Roadrunners now have posted a 23-8 record (.742) at the Wolff the last five springs and won 21 of their last 27 games at the 17-year-old facility.
UTSA will look to pick up its first Southland Conference win of the season on Friday night when it continues its home stand with a 6 p.m. tilt against UT Arlington (7-10, 1-2 SLC) at the Bird Bath.