CHARLESTON, W.Va. — UTSA took a 2-1 lead late in the seventh inning, but Marshall's bats came alive and handed the Roadrunners a 3-2 setback in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.
The pitcher's duel between the left-handers Steven Dressler and Patrick Murphy lasted well through the sixth inning.
Marshall (10-7, 2-1 C-USA) managed to squeak out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Herd put runners on second and third and no outs. Sam Finfer scored for the Herd on a RBI groundout.
In the top of the seventh, C.J. Pickering pulled through for the Roadrunners (9-9, 1-2 C-USA) after Tony Beam and Bryan Arias hit back-to-back base hits to start off the stanza. Relief pitcher Matt Reed issued a walk to his first batter, Chris Estrada, and that loaded the bases with no outs. Two batters later, Pickering doubled to left center and pushed across two runs to give UTSA a 2-1 lead.
The Herd matched the Roadrunners in the home half after a base hit and throwing error allowed all runners to reach safely. A single up the middle scored the first run for Marshall while a fielder's choice scored the go-ahead run.
Second baseman Will Ray tossed the final two innings of the contest and picked up the save, as he retired six of seven batters faced.
Dressler took the loss for UTSA in his six innings on the bump. The southpaw registered a career-best seven strikeouts but allowed three runs on six hits.
Beam had another perfect game at the plate as he went 3-for-3. Meanwhile, Kevin Markham went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
UTSA will conclude its eight-game road swing on Tuesday, March 21, when the Roadrunners travel to Houston Baptist for a 2 p.m. contest.
