RUSTON, La. — Brock Hartson and Matt Sims combined on a four-hit shutout and UTSA blanked Louisiana Tech by a score of 4-0 on Thursday night at J.C. Love Field.
Hartson (8-4) went 8.2 innings and limited the Bulldogs (19-35, 6-19 WAC) to just four hits. The right-hander struck out five and nearly went the distance, but he was replaced after an error and walk loaded the bases in the final stanza.
Sims entered and promptly struck out Kody Neel to close out the game while registering his seventh save of the year.
The Roadrunners (29-23, 13-11 WAC) used a late offensive charge to back up the superb pitching efforts.
Tony Ramirez hit a solo home run with two outs in the sixth to give the Birds a 1-0 lead.
Two frames later, UTSA put up a three-spot thanks to RJ Perucki's RBI double and Horacio Correa III's two-run single.
The Roadrunners finished the night with 12 hits and Correa III led the way by going 4-for-4. Ramirez went 2-for-4 with his fourth homer of the spring and Perucki also had a pair of knocks.
James Ferguson (2-3) allowed four runs on 10 hits over his 7.1 innings.
The series continues at 6 p.m. on Friday. UTSA will send southpaw Michael Kraft (4-5, 4.18 ERA) to the mound, while the Bulldogs are expected to counter with righty Phil Maton (6-5, 2.37 ERA).