SAN ANTONIO -- A two-run seventh inning propelled Western Kentucky to a 5-3 win over UTSA baseball in the series opener Friday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (19-23, 8-11 Conference USA) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first but it was erased by two in the fifth, before the Hilltoppers grabbed the lead in the seventh.
WKU (19-20-1, 10-8-1 C-USA) starter Reece Calvert (2-2) allowed two runs over 5.2 innings for the win.
UTSA starter Karan Patel (3-5) made his 11th start of the year and worked his eighth straight quality start with 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs - three earned - walking four and striking out nine. He lowered his ERA to 2.54 with the effort. Jake Harrison came on in a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, allowing a run over 2.1 innings. Connor Heffron got an out in the ninth.
The Roadrunners struck for a pair in the bottom of the first inning, getting a leadoff double from Bryan Arias - his 10th of the year and 56th of his career - and Bryan Sturges drew a walk. Rock then drilled a 3-1 offering into the gap in right-centerfield, his 17th double of the year, plating the duo for a 2-0 lead.
WKU evened the game with two runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning, getting RBI hits from Kevin Lambert and Nick Brunson. The Hilltoppers capitalized on thre walks, a hit batsman and a base knock to plate two in the seventh for the 4-2 lead.
Arias launched his third homer of the year with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 4-3.
WKU got the run back with a one-out RBI single in the top of the eighth inning.
First pitch of Saturday's game is at 2 p.m. The 1994 Southland Championship team will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
- UTSA -
