SAN ANTONIO — UTSA registered its second-most hits of the season with 19 and used a combined team effort to defeat Incarnate Word, 9-4, on Wednesday night at Sullivan Field.
Every starter in the UTSA lineup recorded at least one hit with Bryan Arias, Tony Beam, Trent Bowles and Skyler Valentine each registering three. Bowles added three RBIs, a home run and two runs scored to his stat line.
UTSA (26-21) struck early with three runs in the opening stanza and maintained its lead throughout the night.
A three-run third followed with lone runs in the fourth and fifth gave the Roadrunners the cushion they needed.
Bowles homered to put the Roadrunners on the board with a two-run blast and that was followed Jesse Baker's single to plate the final run of the first.
In the third, Chris Estrada hit his first home run of the season on a first-pitch solo shot. Five batters later, Kevin Markham's single produced a pair of runs to give UTSA a 6-0 advantage.
Following two scoreless innings by starter Steven Dressler, Incarnate Word (19-30) jumped on the board with a lone run in the bottom of the third and followed with another in the fourth.
Right-hander Karan Patel, who entered in relief for Dressler, threw five innings to pick up the win. Patel allowed four runs, walked none and fanned three batters.
In the seventh, Incarnate Word cut the UTSA lead in half after a base hit by Sean Arnold drove in a pair of runs.
Aldo Buendia made his first career appearance on the mound, as he entered in the bottom of the eighth and sat the Cardinals down in order. He came back out in the ninth for another 1-2-3 inning and recorded two strikeouts in his two frames of action.
The Roadrunners now have now won four straight, tying its season-long win streak from earlier this season.
UTSA returns to Conference USA action this weekend for a three-game series at Charlotte that begins at 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday.
