HATTIESBURG, Miss. — UTSA gave up two big innings to eighth-seeded FIU and the Roadrunners were run-ruled, 15-5, on Thursday in a winner's bracket game at the Conference USA Tournament.
UTSA (33-24) will now play in an elimination game at 3 p.m. on Friday against Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders eliminated top-seeded Rice early Thursday morning but lost to the Roadrunners in Wednesday's opening game of the tournament.
After UTSA scored one run in the opening frame, the Panthers (27-29) posted two huge innings by scoring five runs in the third and another seven in the fifth.
The Roadrunners scored two runs in the fifth on Kevin Markham’s two-run homer, which was his second of the tournament.
UTSA rallied for a pair runs in the seventh.
Jesse Baker led off the inning with an infield hit and moved to second on John Bormann’s 18th hit by pitch of the year. A failed pickoff attempt scored Baker and Bormann followed on Tyler Straub’s RBI double.
However, the Panthers responded in the home half of the inning with three runs to end the contest.
Chance Kirby was charged with the loss after giving up five runs on five hits in his 2.1 innings of work.
Andres Nunez was the winner for FIU. Nunez gave up five runs on seven hits and issued three walks but stuck out eight over 6.2 innings of action.