SAN ANTONIO – Charlotte broke up a scoreless game with two runs in the ninth inning and then Jonah Patten slammed the door in the bottom of the frame to secure a 2-0 victory over UTSA in the Conference USA series opener on Thursday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (29-22, 14-13 C-USA) were held to only three singles in the contest.
Josh Maciejewski worked four scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six to start for the 49ers (31-20, 17-11 C-USA). Chase Gooding (4-1) also pitched four scoreless with six strikeouts. He became the pitcher of record following the two ninth-inning runs.
Meanwhile, Patten earned his ninth save of the campaign after working around a Tony Beam single in the final panel.
Charlotte started the decisive frame with a one-out rally. Drew Ober hit a chopper back up the middle that Derek Craft reached for and altered the trajectory, allowing the baseball to get past Joshua Lamb at shortstop for an infield single. Dominick Cammarata followed with a single to right-center that sent Ober around to third base.
With runners on the corners, Jordan Rodriguez entered the game to relieve Craft. The left-hander induced a slow grounder, but Aldo Buendia's only play was at first base, allowing Ober to cross the plate.
The 49ers added an insurance run after Tommy Bullock hit a single through the middle of the infield, sending Jake Whitcomb plateward.
Beam reached on a two-out single in the ninth, but Patten closed out the game after forcing Lamb into a fielder's choice for the final out.
Craft (3-5) suffered the loss after giving up two runs in one-plus inning out of the bullpen.
Steven Dressler started the game on the mound for UTSA. The southpaw worked four scoreless and allowed only one walk and one hit, but was under a pitch count ahead of next week's C-USA Championship.
Ryan Stacy finished with two hits to lead the Roadrunners at the plate. He also drew a walk.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. UTSA will honor its 10 seniors prior to the first pitch.
