SAN ANTONIO — UTSA scored eight runs on 11 hits, including two home runs, and the Roadrunners opened their season with an 8-5 home victory against Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday night.
The bottom of the order contributed for a majority of UTSA's offense, as catcher John Bormann went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Meanwhile, Skyler Valentine and Trent Bowles each tallied two hits in their Roadrunners debuts.
Brock Hartson gave up four runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings and received a no decision. The junior right-hander struck out four, walked three and scattered seven hits.
Righty Chance Kirby (1-0) allowed one run on one hit in an inning of work to earn the win. Patrick Herbelin picked up the save with 2.1 scoreless frames, surrendering two hits to go along with three strikeouts.
UTSA (1-0) got the action started under the lights in the opening frame when Kevin Markham blasted a solo home run over the wall in right center field.
The Ragin' Cajuns (0-1) answered back in the third with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Bormann hit the Roadrunners’ second homer of the evening in the fourth, a two-run shot to left.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored three more times, twice in the fifth and once in the sixth, before UTSA put a three-spot in the fifth and single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Ragin’ Cajuns starter Chris Charpentier was charged with the loss. The right-hander allowed five runs on five hits, struck out three and walked two in five-plus innings.
The three-game series will continue at 2 p.m. on Saturday.