SAN ANTONIO — UTSA went scoreless in the last six innings against FIU and the Panthers downed the Roadrunners, 12-4, on Saturday afternoon at the Bird Bath.
UTSA (11-15, 2-6 C-USA), which now has dropped seven of its last eight contests, saw all but three players register at least one hit on the day. Matt Hilston and C.J. Pickering each had two with Pickering matching a season best with three RBIs on the strength of a pair of doubles.
In his second relief appearance of the week, Chance Kirby was charged with the loss in over 4.1 innings of action. Kirby gave up four runs on four hits, walked two and recorded three strikeouts.
FIU starter Chris Mourelle earned the win in six innings of work. Mourelle fanned six, issued three walks and gave up four runs on six hits. Meanwhile, Alex Demchak picked up his second save of the season in his three innings on the mound. Demchak struck out two and surrendered a pair of hits.
After each team put up a three-spot in the opening stanza and zeros in the second, the score tied for the final time in the third with a lone run from each club.
FIU (14-16, 3-5 C-USA) opened up the game in the fourth after scoring two and then combined for another six runs between the fifth and sixth innings. The Panthers batted around and collected four of their 13 hits in that inning.
UTSA managed to keep FIU off the board in the last three innings behind Jake Harrison’s 2.1 innings. The freshman allowed just three base runners after giving up two hits and a walk. Harrison also matched a season best with three strikeouts.
Sunday's rubber game will be played at noon.