CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UTSA trailed early on and was unable to make up ground as Charlotte took the series opener 4-3 on Thursday night at Hayes Stadium.
The Roadrunners struck early in the fourth after John Bormann stole home for the first score of the night.
Charlotte (19-27, 11-17 C-USA) answered back in the home half with three runs as Logan Sherer led off the inning with a solo shot to left center. Two errors prolonged the inning and allowed one runner to eventually score.
UTSA (30-23, 15-13 C-USA) totaled five errors on the night with two each in the fourth and eighth innings.
After Bormann’s score in the fourth frame, UTSA scored again in the seventh. Matt Hilston led off the inning with a walk and made his way to second on a failed pickoff attempt. A single and a fielder’s choice drove in the first baseman and made it a one-run game, 3-2.
The 49ers run in the eighth doubled up the Roadrunners but the lead was drawn back to one as Hilston scored again in the ninth off a long ball.
Brock Hartson was charged with the loss as he tossed seven innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits.
Hartson’s counterpart, Sean Geoghegan earned the win in six innings of work. The southpaw allowed two runs on three hits and recorded five strikeouts. Micah Wells pitched three innings in relief to pick up his fourth save of the season.
The Roadrunners registered five hits on the night.
The series will continue at 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday.