LUBBOCK — UTSA rallied late with four runs in the seventh but then went scoreless in the next two innings to suffer a 7-6 heartbreaker at No. 6 Texas Tech on Friday night.
UTSA (7-6) made it a one-run game in most part by Kevin Markham's three-run triple. Bryan Arias led off the inning with a stand-up double to right center and that was followed by a full-count walk to Tony Beam. Aldo Buendia took his base via a hit by pitch and that loaded the bases for Skyler Valentine. The junior outfielder then laced a ball up the middle to produce the first run of the inning, driving in Arias. Markham then cleared the bases with his three-bagger to pull the Roadrunners to within one.
Markham's three RBIs were a season high and he ended his night 2-for-5 with a run. Valentine, Beam and Trent Bowles also registered a pair of hits for UTSA, but the Red Raiders (13-2) outhit the Roadrunners, 13-10.
Texas Tech scored five of its seven runs early on with a two-run first and a three-run third. Left-hander Nolan Trabanino was charged with the loss in his four innings of work, as he allowed six runs on 11 hits.
After UTSA went scoreless through the first three innings, the Roadrunners threatened to score in the top of the fourth after back-to-back base knocks by Valentine and Markham put runners on first and second. A Jesse Baker ground out to the pitcher advanced the two runners and a base hit up the middle by Bowles scored two runs to avoid the shutout.
Right-hander Davis Martin held UTSA to two runs in his six innings of work and earned the win as he struck out five and issued one walk.
Texas Tech scored lone runs in the fifth and sixth before going quietly the next two innings. UTSA's bullpen — Chance Kirby and Chris Muller — held the Red Raiders to just one run on two hits and they combined for six strikeouts.
The series will continue at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
