MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — UTSA scored eight runs in the third inning, including a grand slam by C.J. Pickering, and the Roadrunners cruised to a 9-4 victory at Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
UTSA (30-18, 14-9 C-USA) pounded out 15 hits, including three apiece from Horacio Correa III and Jesse Baker, and every starter reached base.
After the Blue Raiders (23-24, 11-12 C-USA) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, the Roadrunners bats came alive in the next half inning.
Correa III evened the contest with an RBI single before Mike Warren clubbed a go-ahead three-run home run to left field to give the Birds a 4-1 edge. Later in the frame, Pickering delivered his first career grand slam to blow the game wide open, 8-1, as UTSA sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Middle Tennessee plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth to draw to within 8-4, but Wesley Cox (7-1) negated the threat by entering in relief and throwing the final 4.2 innings without allowing a run to earn the victory.
Correa III increased the lead to 9-4 in the sixth when he scored from third on a wild pitch.
UTSA starter Nolan Trabanino went 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits.
Trent Miller paced the Blue Raiders at the plate by going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Roadrunners will go for the series sweep at noon on Sunday.