SAN ANTONIO — Matt Carroll posted three hits, including a double, and six RBIs to guide San Jose State to a 12-4 victory at UTSA on Thursday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Spartans (8-18, 2-2 WAC), who scored seven times in the first two innings, scored a season-high 12 times and had a season-best 16 hits.
Carroll broke the game open in the second.
After San Jose State took a 3-2 lead on Michael Gerlach's one-out RBI single, the Spartans loaded the bases for Carroll. The right-handed first baseman drove the first pitch from Roadrunners starting pitcher Michael Kraft into the gap in right-center field, which cleared the bases and that gave the visitors a 6-2 advantage. San Jose State picked up one more tally in the frame on Nick Shulz's run-scoring double to take a five-run lead.
UTSA (15-11, 1-3 WAC) pulled to within four on RJ Perucki's RBI double in the fifth, but the Spartans answered with two in the sixth, another in the seventh and two more in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
The Roadrunners picked up one more run when Daniel Rockett crossed the plate on Perucki's double-play ground out.
Kraft (1-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits in just 1.2 innings.
Meanwhile, David Wayne Russo (3-3) earned the win after tossing eight-plus stanzas. He gave up four runs on a dozen hits, walked two and struck out a pair.
Carroll was one of four San Jose State players to register multiple hits on the night. Ricky Acosta and Andre Mercurio each tallied a trio of knocks, while Acosta drove in two runs.
UTSA collected 13 hits on the night, but only one went for extra bases. Perucki led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, which included a double and two RBIs, while Rockett was 3-for-5 and scored twice.
The weekend set continues at 6 p.m. Friday. UTSA will send right-hander Jordan Pacheco (6-0, 3.31 ERA) to the mound, while San Jose State will counter with right-hander D.J. Slaton (1-4, 4.00 ERA).