SAN ANTONIO — Daniel Rockett broke a 5-5 tie with two outs in the bottom of the eighth by hammering a three-run homer over the fence in left center and UTSA held on to defeat Sacramento State, 8-5, and clinch the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) series on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (21-18, 6-8 WAC) overcame a 4-1 deficit to upend the Hornets (22-17, 8-7 WAC) in the rubber game of the set.
UTSA scored twice in the fourth and another in the fifth to pull even.
Both teams then scored a run in the sixth to remain tied.
Two frames later, the Birds took the lead for good.
With one out, John Bormann drew a walk and Jesse Baker followed with a single. After Riley Good fouled out behind home plate, Rockett drove a 2-1 pitch out of the park to give UTSA the advantage.
Matt Sims, who entered with two outs in the eighth, retired three of the four batters he faced in the final inning to secure the victory.
Sims (2-0) held Sacramento State scoreless and struck out two over the final 1.1 panels of the game.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners racked up 11 hits on the day.
Baker was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the way, while Rockett went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. Good also chipped in with two hits, including a double, and drove in a pair.
Brandon Creel (5-3) suffered the loss after he gave up three runs on three hits in 2.1 stanzas.
UTSA will return to action on Tuesday, April 23, in a non-conference contest at Texas-Pan American (19-17). First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.