SAN ANTONIO — UTSA overcame a 2-1 deficit by scoring six runs in the eighth inning to down Texas State on Tuesday night, 7-2.
RJ Perucki went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead UTSA (25-12) to its sixth win in its last nine outings.
Perucki followed John Welborn’s lead-off double in the first with one of his own two batters later to give UTSA a 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats (19-17) answered back an inning later with Trey Hicks’ single to center, which brought in Tyler Pearson home from second base to even the game at one apiece.
The Roadrunners then got a big lift from left-hander Michael Kraft. The senior entered with two outs in the second and promptly retired 15 of the next 19 batters he faced, including a season-high six strikeouts.
However, Texas State plated the go-ahead run in the eighth on an RBI single to center by Garrett Mattledge.
UTSA showed its resilience in the bottom half of the frame.
Logan Kinder led off with a single to center and Welborn drew a one-out walk two batters later. After Horacio Correa III reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases, Perucki delivered a two-run single into left field to put the Birds back in front, 3-2. Correa III then added another run after being after a pick-off attempt at second base. The junior shortstop took off for third base, but Hunter Lemke’s throw went in and out of third baseman Trey Hicks' glove into left field, which allowed Correa III to score. Tony Ramirez then plated Perucki on a double to right center and Jesse Baker provided an exclamation point to the inning with a two-run home run to left.
Wesley Cox tossed a scoreless ninth to give UTSA the season split with the Bobcats.
UTSA will travel to Norfolk, Va., this weekend for a three-game series at Old Dominion (22-15, 10-8 C-USA). The set is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (CT) on Thursday.