SAN ANTONIO — UTSA led through seven innings before No. 15 Southern Miss combined for eight runs in the final two frames to hand the Raadrunners a 9-3 loss on Thursday night at Roadrunner Field. Despite the setback, UTSA clinched a berth in next week's Conference USA Tournament when Marshall lost earlier in the day.
Following a Golden Eagles run in the top of the second, the Roadrunners (28-23, 15-13 C-USA) responded with a pair of runs in the home half to take a 2-1 lead.
Starter Steven Dressler worked quickly through the Southern Miss lineup and surrendered just three hits the rest of the way. After issuing back-to-back walks to start the eighth, fellow lefty Karl Craigie came in relief and gave up three consecutive hits that scored the three runs, including the go-ahead run that made it 4-3.
Craigie was charged with the loss in his one-third inning of action for his first loss of the season.
Southern Miss (42-12, 23-5 C-USA) pulled away in the ninth after tacking on another five runs. The win marked a program record for wins in the regular season.
The Roadrunners racked up eight hits on the night with Trent Bowles and Jesse Baker each registering a pair. Tony Beam, whose only hit of the night came off a solo home run in the fifth to give UTSA a 3-1 advantage, registered two RBIs.
For Southern Miss, Colt Smith earned the win in his seven frames of work, while Nick Sandlin collected his sixth save of the season.
The Golden Eagles totaled nine hits with three players notching at least two.
The remainder of the series has been moved to a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday due to forecasted inclement weather on Saturday. Senior Day festivities will take place after the conclusion of Friday's opening contest.
