SAN ANTONIO — UTSA scored early and often and used a strong relief pitching performance by Tyler Giovanoni to hold off Florida Atlantic by a score of 9-6 on Friday night at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (19-17, 8-8 C-USA) scored eight of its nine runs in the second and third innings, while the top of the order accounted for half the team's hits. Three Roadrunners registered a pair of hits behind the performances of Bryan Arias, Kevin Markham and C.J. Pickering.
After Florida Atlantic opened with a solo home run in the first inning, UTSA responded with its four-run second. The Roadrunners batted around after Trent Bowles put the wheels in motion with his leadoff homer. A walk and back-to-back base hits, including a bunt single by Tony Beam, loaded the bases. Mason George scored a run after he reached on a fielding error, and two batters later, UTSA plated another two runs on Arias' ground-rule double to lead, 4-1.
Another four-run inning in the third put UTSA comfortably in the driver's seat, 8-1.
Florida Atlantic (25-12-1, 11-5 C-USA) slowly chipped away at the lead with a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and another in the sixth.
With just a two-run advantage, UTSA cushioned its lead in the home half of the sixth on Markham's solo long ball.
Giovanoni was spectacular coming from the bullpen, as he held the Owls to two hits in his 4.2 innings of work. The right-hander allowed one run, walked none and struck out four to earn his first save of the season.
Meanwhile, Karl Craigie took the win for UTSA in his two innings in relief. The southpaw allowed one unearned run as he walked three and fanned two.
Owls starter Alex House was charged with the loss after working 5.2 frames. House allowed nine runs on 10 hits.
The weekend series will continue at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
