SAN ANTONIO — Freshman left-handed pitcher Michael Kraft kept Saint Joseph's in check for 6.2 innings on Sunday and he helped lead UTSA to a 5-1 victory in this weekend's series finale at Wolff Stadium. Both teams saw their season records even out at 4-4 with the split of the four-game set.
Kraft (1-0) allowed his lone run, which was unearned, in the first.
Brett Tiagwad led off the contest with a single to right field. Kraft then sailed a pick-off throw down the right field line, which allowed Tiagwad to move to second. After he advanced to third on a wild pitch, Tiagwad came home on a sacrifice fly.
The San Antonio native cruised from there, scattering just two more hits to go along with four strikeouts.
Sophomore Daniel Rockett led off the fourth with a walk and UTSA then strung together three consecutive hits, which turned into a pair of runs.
The Roadrunners added three insurance runs in the eighth, including a two-run triple by senior Tyler Carpenter. Sophomore Jake Wood also recorded an RBI single in the frame. Both finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
UTSA received stellar relief pitching in the late innings.
Freshman Blake Denman came in the seventh and needed just one pitch to get out of the inning. The Bellaire native went on to toss a perfect eighth with a strikeout and senior Zach Calhoon closed out the victory with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Birds continue their six-game home stand at Wolff on Monday with a noon matchup against Oregon State (4-3).
