LAKE CHARLES, La. – UTSA pounded out 18 hits, including five for extra bases, in a 14-3 victory over McNeese State on Sunday at Joe Miller Ballpark to complete the series sweep.
Bryan Arias led the Roadrunners (5-5) with a 4 for 5 performance that included three RBIs. Tony Beam was 3 for 5 with a three-run homer and five RBIs, while Ben Brookover tallied three hits and Garrett Moon had two and drove in a pair.
UTSA used five pitchers to scatter nine hits and limit the Cowboys (2-9) to single runs in three separate innings.
Palmer Wenzel (1-1) earned the win, as the side-winding right-hander allowed only one run on two hits in two panels of relief.
Bradley Griggs received a no-decision in his first career start. The left-hander went three-plus innings and gave up one run on four hits and a pair of walks. He also struck out three.
The Roadrunners led 1-0 in the fourth, but McNeese State loaded the bases and pushed across a run without recording an out forcing a pitching change. Wenzel entered the game and induced a lineout and a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the jam.
UTSA made Wenzel a winner with three runs in the sixth that included RBIs by Arias and Jonathan Tapia.
The Birds blew open the game a frame later after scoring five times, highlighted by Moon's two-run double.
The Roadrunners tacked on four more in the ninth on Arias' run-scoring single and Beam's three-run round-tripper.
UTSA is scheduled to complete its road trip on Tuesday with a stop at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Corpus Christi.
SERIES NOTES
• UTSA's pitching staff allowed only five earned runs in the three games.
• The Roadrunners outscored the Cowboys 20-5 in the set.
• Karan Patel's start in game one on Friday night was his first since April 4, 2017.
• Bradley Griggs was given the start in game three on Sunday, the first of his collegiate career.
• Palmer Wenzel earned his first win with the Roadrunners on Sunday.
• Four pitchers did not allow a run in their appearances – Karan Patel (6.0 IP), Derek Craft (3.0 IP), Andre Shewcraft (2.1 IP) and Kyrell Miller (1.0 IP).
• Shewcraft has posted five scoreless appearances this spring, while Craft now has worked 10.2 scoreless panels.
• UTSA hit .292 in the series with seven extra-base hits.
• Tony Beam led the offensive output with a .455 batting average (5 for 11) that included a home run and six RBIs. He also slugged .727 in the series.
• Joshua Lamb scored a team-high four runs in the three games.
• Chris Estrada logged his first hit of the season with a double in Sunday's contest.
T8 | TONY BEAM! The senior catcher turns on the first pitch and drills a 3-run homer.??????#UTSA leads 14-2.#BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/eIxlDsBrp3
— UTSA Baseball (@UTSABSB) March 4, 2018