SAN ANTONIO — UTSA earned a pair of wins Friday night against Old Dominion as the Roadrunners went into extra innings in the series opener, 7-6, and picked up an 8-2 victory in the nightcap at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (21-14, 9-5 C-USA) played its longest outing of the season in Game 1 with a 13-inning contest. The Roadrunners gave up three early runs in the top of the third and were held scoreless through the first six frames.
In the seventh inning, trailing 5-0, Geonte Jackson reached on a miscue by Old Dominion’s shortstop that allowed the inning to stay alive and Jesse Baker to score. Baker’s run in the seventh was the first run scored by UTSA in that inning since Feb. 28 at McNeese State.
In the following inning, the Roadrunners plated three runs to trail by one in the eighth, 5-4.
Old Dominion (16-17, 4-10 C-USA) tacked on a run in the top of the ninth to lead 6-5, but the Roadrunners rallied in the home half with a pair of runs to take the game into extras.
A one-out walk by Matt Hilston got things rolling and was followed by a throwing error by the Monarchs shortstop to place runners on the base paths and extend the frame. Valentine then laced a two-RBI single that evened the score.
Both teams went quietly for the next three innings before Valentine came up big with his second hit of the game in the bottom of the 13th as he scored John Bormann for the winning run.
Chance Kirby was the pitcher of record as he pitched 3.2 innings. Kirby scattered two hits and did not allow a run, walked a season-high four batters and recorded one strikeout.
Meanwhile, Zach Rutherford was charged with the loss in 3.2 innings of work. He allowed one run on four hits, walked one and struck out three.
Kevin Markham and Bowles each had three hits apiece.
In the nightcap, Baker blasted his 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the third to give UTSA a 2-0 lead. The junior ranks 11th in the NCAA in home runs this season.
ODU avoided its second shutout of the year in the fifth as the Monarchs brought home a run.
In the home half, UTSA responded with a run as Valentine crossed home plate on a throwing error.
The visiting Monarchs made it a one-run game in the eighth but in the bottom of the frame, the Roadrunners plated five runs to secure the win.
Right-handed pitcher Aaron Burns earned his sixth win of the season in 7.1 innings of action. The junior struck out a career-high 10 batters and allowed two runs on nine hits.
Cody Brannon worked the final 1.2 innings and earned his third save of the year.
Old Dominion starter Nick Hartman was charged with the loss in 7.0 innings of work as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits.
Both teams will return to the diamond for Saturday's series finale. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. (please note the time change).