| Freshman Ryan Dalton launched his team-leading fifth home run of the year, a three-run shot in the fourth, on Friday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — Sam Houston State jumped out to an early six-run advantage and ended a 12-game Southland Conference regular-season losing streak to UTSA with a 9-5 victory on Friday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Bearkats (9-13, 4-3 SLC), who won their fourth consecutive game, last defeated the Birds in league play on April 3, 2005, in a 4-2 triumph in Huntsville.
Jessie Plumlee's two-run triple in the second gave Sam Houston an early 2-0 cushion.
The lead swelled to a half dozen following a four-run third, an inning that featured a lead-off home run off the bat of Mark Hudson, a two-run double by Plumlee and a run-scoring two-bagger from Doug Oney.
UTSA (9-11, 1-6 SLC) cut the lead in half a frame later when freshman Ryan Dalton launched his team-leading fifth homer of the year, a three-run shot to right center with two down.
After the Bearkats added a mark in the fifth, Jeff Taliaferro led off the bottom of the frame with his fourth long ball of the season to pull the Roadrunners within three.
Chris Andreas' two-run bomb to right with two down in the next panel stretched the lead back out to five.
Junior Ryan Hutson responded with a lead-off homer to center in the bottom of the inning, tying Dalton for the team lead, but that was be the closest the Birds would get the rest of the way, as Daniel Nottebart held UTSA hitless and fanned five over the final three frames for his second save of the season.
Justin Jackson (1-0), making just his third start of the year, picked up the win after allowing five runs (four earned) on a half dozen hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked just one in the 96-pitch performance.
UTSA starter Casey Selsor (3-2) was saddled with the loss. The southpaw surrendered seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits, while whiffing five.
Andreas led a 13-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Meanwhile, Plumlee reached base in four of his five plate appearances, including a pair of hits, and he knocked in a career-high five. Jared Wondra and Hudson also finished the night with two safeties apiece.
Dalton had two hits and three RBIs to lead the Birds at the plate.
The series continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday.