SAN ANTONIO -- McNeese State plated seven runs in the first two innings to pace a series-clinching 12-3 win in the second game of the three-game series, on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (0-2) fell behind early to McNeese State (2-0) as the Cowboys scored seven runs on four hits, coming over their first four outs, to build an insurmountable margin. McNeese State collected 16 runs on 16 hits, including five homers in a 16-5 win on Friday in the season opener. The Cowboys belted a pair of homers on Saturday.
UTSA senior left-handed starter Bradley Griggs (0-1) made his second career start in his 43rd career outing. Griggs allowed six runs on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings. UTSA also used Hunter Mason, Slater Foust, Clayton Hill and Ben Ostrominski in relief.
Foust, a native of Georgetown, Texas, turned in the best pitching outing of the first two games, tossing 4.2 shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk, striking out four.
McNeese State starter Peyton McLemore worked two innings in a pre-determined start, allowing three hits and two runs, walking one and striking out five. Lefty Brian King (1-0) earned the win with a splendid outing in relief, working five shutout innings and retiring six of his final seven hitters faced.
The Roadrunners were led at the plate by a 1-for-4 game with two RBI from Jonathan Tapia. Griffin Paxton, Bryan Arias, Dylan Rock and Chase Hacker each added knocks. Nick Thornquist belted a pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth.
The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Roadrunner Field, with the game broadcast live on CUSA.tv.
McNeese State wasted little time in taking an early lead, belting a solo homer out of leadoff hitter Nate Fishbeck in the top of the first inning and getting a two-out shot from Clayton Rasbeary, his third homer in his first six at-bats in 2019.
The Cowboys busted open the game in the second inning, plating five runs on two hits for a 7-0 lead.
UTSA got on the board in the second inning, getting a two-out, two-RBI RBI single from Tapia, who scored Chase Hacker and Chase Keng.
McNeese State added five runs in the fourth inning.
Thornquist cut into the lead with a first-pitch blast to lead off the ninth inning.
- UTSA -
