CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Right-hander Tyler Giovanoni was masterful in his second consecutive complete game and he led UTSA to a 5-0 shutout victory at Charlotte on Friday at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium.
The Schertz native gave up up just two hits and tied a season high with seven strikeouts in going the distance for the eighth time of his career. Giovanoni retired his first 14 hitters he faced before giving up a hit in the fifth to Reese Hampton.
The Roadrunners' third shutout of the season extended their winning streak to five games.
Following two scoreless innings, UTSA (27-21, 14-11 C-USA) jumped on the board in the third after a fielding error allowed Kevin Markham to take two bases with two outs. Another error by the Niners (27-21, 14-11 C-USA) kept the inning alive and allowed Bryan Arias to reach and Markham cross home plate.
The Roadrunners added to their lead with two runs in the fourth to push the lead to 3-0.
Ben Brookover singled up the middle to start off the inning and moved on over to second on a passed ball. A Chris Estrada base hit advanced Brookover another 90 feet and he came home on Jesse Baker's single. Two batters later, Tony Beam scored Baker for the third run of the inning.
UTSA added another pair of runs in the ninth.
Beam's second double of the day followed by another base hit and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Arias then lined a single up the middle to bring home Skyler Valentine and Beam to give the Roadrunners a five-run advantage.
Arias and Beam each had two hits to lead the Roadrunners offense, while Arias also had two RBIs and a double.
Hampton and Brett Netzer registered the only hits for Charlotte.
The weekend series will continue at 1 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.
