HUNTSVILLE — UTSA showed resilience in its first road game of the season and worked its way back to defeat Sam Houston State by a score of 8-5 on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
Trailing 4-0 heading into the fifth inning, UTSA (3-1) rallied to score five runs and take a one-run lead over Sam Houston State, 5-4. The Roadrunners scored its five runs on four hits and one error.
Bryan Arias led off the inning on four straight balls and was followed by Jason Serchay’s single to right, which was the Roadrunners’ first hit of the night. Sam Houston State starter Greg Belton retired 11 straight batters before Serchay got one in left field.
On the next at-bat, Skyler Valentine singled to left to bring in Arias and was the beginning of the Roadrunners’ comeback. An error by the first baseman allowed Mason George to take first and Serchay to cross home plate. Ryan Stacy’s fielder’s choice drove in Valentine for the third run, and two batters later, Tyler Straub singled to center to bring home George. A sac fly by Geonte Jackson scored the final run for UTSA in the fifth.
The Bearkats (0-4) eventually came back to tie the score in the sixth inning but wouldn’t hold for long.
Andre Shewcraft (1-0) entered the game in the seventh inning and held Sam Houston State scoreless for the win. The right-hander worked 3.0 innings and struck out a career high five batters while scattering only two hits.
The offense backed up Shewcraft’s performance with its three-run eighth. Ben Brookover started the inning with a single to right but was replaced by J.T. Gilmore on the bases. An error allowed for Valentine to take first to put runners on the corners. George, with his only hit of the night, tripled to bring in both runners and make it 7-5. Two batter later, Hilston scored George for the final run of the game.
UTSA outhit Sam Houston State 11-10 with Matt Hilston, Straub and Serchay each registering two hits apiece.
The Bearkats’ Hayden Nixon was charged with the loss in his 0.1 inning of work. Nixon gave up three runs on two hits.
UTSA will return to the Bird Bath this weekend for a three-game series against McNeese State. Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.