SAN ANTONIO – UTSA collected 15 hits and defeated Columbia 8-5 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (7-7) used a four-run fourth inning to take control of the game. UTSA's bullpen held the Lions (3-9) in check the rest of the contest to complete the victory.
Bryan Arias and Ryan Stacy headlined the offensive outburst for the Birds, as each player tallied three hits. Arias registered a double and a triple, while Stacy scored three runs and stole a base.
Palmer Wenzel (3-1) picked up his second win in as many games, as the right-hander gave up one run in 2.1 panels and struck out three. Bradley Griggs pitched the final 2.1 stanzas, holding Columbia to one hit while picking up his first save of the year.
Jordan Chriss (0-2) took the loss after he was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in 3.2 innings.
UTSA jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the opening inning, as Arias scored on a throwing error and Ben Brookover drove in Stacy on a two-out single.
Both teams pushed across a run in the second. A frame later, the Lions pulled even after a dropped fly ball with two outs allowed two runners to cross the plate.
The Roadrunners reclaimed the lead in the fourth with four runs.
Chris Estrada started the scoring with an RBI double that plated Garrett Moon, who reached on a single. Trent Bowles also recorded a run-scoring single before Tony Beam drove in two runs on a two-out hit.
Columbia picked up another unearned run in the fifth.
UTSA's final tally came in the sixth, as Stacy came around to score on an error.
The Lions capped the scoring with a seventh-inning run on Matt Cerfolio's double.
Griggs, who retired the only batter he faced in the seventh, faced the minimum in the eighth and gave up a double and a walk in the final panel before inducing a groundout to end the contest.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Tuesday, March 13, as they travel to San Marcos to face I-35 rival Texas State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
UTSA won the final two games of the series against Columbia, including Sunday's finale, to split the four-game set.#BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/6EVOJfEg9s
— UTSA Baseball (@UTSABSB) March 11, 2018
Another Sunday W. ??#BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/oCkJjOk7PR
— UTSA Baseball (@UTSABSB) March 11, 2018
Senior infielder Chris Estrada explained the Roadrunners' mentality in picking up back-to-back wins to split the series with Columbia.#BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/3UujvIlOPT
— UTSA Baseball (@UTSABSB) March 11, 2018
UTSA head coach Jason Marshall reflected on the series with Columbia.#BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/8tZKjQC9Tb
— UTSA Baseball (@UTSABSB) March 11, 2018