SAN ANTONIO — Eight different players collected hits, five scored multiple runs and UTSA rode a five-run second inning to down Incarnate Word, 10-4, on Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Cardinals (3-9) placed the first tallies on the scoreboard in the second with a pair of unearned runs. UIW capitalized on a fielding error by scoring a run on a fielder’s choice and another on Jason Stone’s two-out single to center.
However, the Roadrunners (8-4) made sure the lead was short-lived by loading the bases with only one out and drawing consecutive walks by John Welborn and Jesse Baker to tie the game. RJ Perucki pushed UTSA ahead with a sacrifice fly a batter later and Mitchell Matulia followed with a two-run double down the left field line to complete the five-run frame.
UTSA kept the momentum going in the third with a pair RBI singles by C.J. Pickering and Perucki. Baker added a sacrifice fly to as part of the three-run third that pushed the lead to 8-2.
Pickering extended the advantage to 9-2 in the seventh by scoring from third on a wild pitch. Welborn and Baker extended their hitting streaks to 11 games each with back-to-back doubles later in the inning with Welborn coming around to score on Baker’s shot to left.
Pickering finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Baker, the reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week, was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
The Cardinals brought in two runs in the eighth but never threatened after that.
Jeremy Filipek (1-0) picked up the victory for UTSA with a game-high five strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief. The two teams combined to use 12 pitchers in the midweek contest.
UTSA will host Texas-Pan American (6-6) at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.