SAN ANTONIO – UTSA scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, including a six-run third, to defeat Middle Tennessee by a score of 14-7 on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (24-21, 12-11 C-USA) secured the series win over the Blue Raiders and it is the fourth Conference USA series that the Roadrunners have won this season. Middle Tennessee (20-26, 7-16 C-USA) now has dropped its last eight C-USA outings.
Both teams tallied 12 hits on the day and UTSA had all but one starter register at least one hit. Four Roadrunners posted a pair of hits with Kevin Markham going 2-for-5 with a run, double and career-tying four RBIs. Skyler Valentine also had two hits and matched a career-best with three runs scored to go along with two RBIs and a home run.
The Roadrunners bats came to life early with two runs in the first and another two in the second. C.J. Pickering's two-run double plated the first runs of the game for UTSA and Markham's brought home two more runs with a single in the second.
Middle Tennessee managed to squeak out a run in the top of the second on a solo home run by third baseman Drew Huff.
The third inning proved to be the game-changer, as UTSA pushed across six runs on five hits. The Roadrunners faced three different Blue Raiders pitchers, but starter Cody Puckett was charged with the loss as he allowed eight runs on five hits.
Back-to-back base hits followed with a walk loaded the bases to start off the third. Chris Estrada then doubled to the right center gap and scored two runs. Valentine's single scored the following run, while two batters later, Markham doubled to bring home Valentine and Estrada. Pickering drove in the final run of the inning on a bases load walk.
The Blue Raiders had a big inning in the top of the fourth with five runs, but it wasn't enough after UTSA produced another three runs in the home half and another in the fifth.
The fourth inning saw three Roadrunners cross home plate. Valentine's solo home run was the third time the junior scored, while Jesse Baker and Bryan Arias came home for the second time.
UTSA will go for the weekend sweep at noon on Sunday.
