SAN ANTONIO – Bryan Arias hit a walk-off single in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, pushing Aldo Buendia across the plate to give UTSA a 3-2 victory over Columbia in the nightcap. It came just hours after the Lions captured the first game of the day, 11-7.
Arias finished with four hits and four RBIs in the twinbill. He registered a double, a home run and scored three times to pace the Roadrunners (6-7).
The two teams will close out the series on Sunday with a single, nine-inning contest. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
GAME ONE RECAP
UTSA built a 5-0 lead through five innings, but Columbia (3-8) scored 10 runs in the sixth to seize control of the contest.
The Lions sent 14 batters to the plate and recorded five hits in the decisive panel.
The Roadrunners picked up single runs in the seventh and ninth, but came up short after the big inning.
Andre Shewcraft (0-1) was saddled with the loss in the opener, as the right-hander was tagged for three runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.
Bryce Barr (1-0) picked up the win in relief. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowed two hits and and a run.
GAME TWO RECAP
Columbia started the nightcap with single tallies in each of the first two stanzas.
UTSA managed to pull even in the fifth with pair of marks.
Chris Estrada started the inning with a triple and was driven in on Arias' infield single. Three batters later, Tony Beam grounded out, but Arias scored the tying run.
After three scoreless panels, Aldo Buendia hit a pop fly that was trapped in a diving attempt by Lion right fielder Julian Bury. Buendia hustled around first and slid into second base to start the rally.
Estrada then followed with a groundout to the right side of the infield that pushed Buendia over to third base, setting up Arias' heroics.
The junior infielder took the first pitch, a ball, before lining a single over the drawn-in left fielder's head and allowing Buendia to trot across home plate.
Palmer Wenzel (2-1) became the pitcher of record following Arias' walk-off single, as the right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Karan Patel received a no-decision, but the righty logged his most impressive appearance of the season. Patel went eight innings, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) with a walk on 104 pitches. He also struck out a career-high eight batters.
Brett Gannaway (1-1) took the loss, as he allowed one run on five hits in the final 4.1 stanzas.
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