SAN ANTONIO – Western Kentucky edged UTSA 4-2 Sunday at Roadrunner Field, clinching the series two games to one.
A day after the teams combined for 39 runs and 32 hits, both pitching staffs held the opposing offenses in check, allowing six runs on 12 knocks.
The Roadrunners dropped to 20-24 overall and 9-12 in Conference USA play, while the Hilltoppers improved to 20-21-1 and 11-9-1.
With one swing of the bat in the home first, Bryan Arias blasted a mammoth home run over the batter's eye in dead center, knotting the contest at one apiece. He moved into a tie for 10thon the program's all-time home run list with 25.
WKU regained the advantage with a two-out single in the third.
Back-to-back walks by Bryan Sturges and Dylan Rock opened the fourth. An errant pick-off attempt second sailed into center, allowing both runners to move into scoring position. Garrett Moon lifted a fly deep enough in left to score Sturges from third, evening the game at 2-2.
Kevin Lambert grounded out to third in the sixth, driving in the eventual game-winning run, scoring Jack Wilson.
After allowing seven runs on nine hits, walking five and striking out two in 6.2 innings of work Saturday, UTSA's bullpen tossed 8.2 innings Sunday. Shane Daughety, Jake Harrison, Zach Griggs and Hunter Grimes scattered nine hits, walked two and fanned nine, allowing just three runs.
Daughety was saddled with the hard-luck loss and fell to 2-3 on the season. He gave up two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of relief for the Roadrunners starter, A.G. Yowell. With runners on second and third and one out in the opening frame, Daughtey entered the game and shut the door.
Joe Filosa, Jacob Green and Bailey Sutton combined to allow two hits by the Roadrunners. The trio issued six free passes and fanned eight. Green earned the win (3-2) and Sutton picked up the save.
The Roadrunners conclude the five game home stand with the third and final meeting of 2019 with Texas State Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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