CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UTSA used a three-run sixth inning to take the lead and reliever Karl Craigie held Charlotte to just one run to help the Roadrunners rally for a critical 5-3 victory on Sunday at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium.
UTSA (28-22, 15-12 C-USA) registered nine hits on the day with Aldo Buendia and Trent Bowles each tallying two. Jesse Baker added one, a double, to go along with a pair of RBIs.
Meanwhile, C.J. Pickering collected his third win of the season in his 5.1 frames of action. The right-hander allowed two runs on seven hits and issued no walks.
Craigie, who pitched the rest of the way, earned the save after facing the tying run at the plate in the ninth. The senior struck out three batters, walked three and surrendered one run on five hits.
UTSA had to work its way from behind after falling into an early 2-0 hole.
Eight Roadrunners stepped up to the plate in the decisive three-tun sixth with four registering a hit.
Buendia's double led off the inning to put the wheels in motion. Kevin Markham then ripped a single down the first-base line to place runners on the corners. Buendia then came home on Bryan Arias' fielder's choice while Markham remained on the base paths via a fielding error. Back-to-back base hits by Ben Brookover and Pickering scored the next two runs.
Charlotte (28-22, 15-12 C-USA) threatened to score in the home half of the sixth after back-to-back walks by Craigie loaded the bases, but he got out of the jam to maintain the lead.
The Roadrunners went on to add two insurance runs in the eighth to extend the advantage to 5-2.
Baker doubled down the left-field line with two outs and that brought home Brookover and Bowles.
UTSA will close out its regular season next week with four home games beginning with a 6 p.m. contest against Baylor on Tuesday, May 16.
