SAN ANTONIO — C.J. Pickering blasted a two-out, 3-run home run in the bottom sixth to lift UTSA past the Bryant Bulldogs 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (4-2) trailed 2-1 in the bottom sixth with two outs and runners on first and second. Pickering then blasted his first homer of the season over to left center and scored John Bormann and Matt Hilston, 4-2.
Bryant (0-2) cut into the Roadrunners’ lead in the top eighth with a single run, 4-3, but the home team answered right back with an insurance run.
Tyler Straub begin the inning with a leadoff single and moved to second on Bormann’s sacrifice bunt. He then crossed home plate on a Hilston RBI single.
Cody Brannon then came in to pitch the final inning and went 1-2-3 to get the save.
Aaron Burns (1-1) was the pitcher of record for UTSA as he went 2.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits, while striking out three.
James Karinchak was charged with the loss for Bryant. The right-hander tossed 3.0 innings and allowed four runs on three hits. Karinchak also struck out three batters.
Pickering was the Roadrunners’ top performer at the plate with a 2-for-3 plate appearance with three RBI, one run and one home run.
UTSA will be back on the diamond on Sunday for the series finale. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m. (please note the time change).