As steady rain started to fall midway through Friday’s game, the UTSA Roadrunners were able to pull away for an 8-1 victory over the Seattle University Redhawks in Western Athletic Conference baseball action at Bannerwood Park.
UTSA (17-13, 3-4 WAC) jumped on the board in the top of the second inning when Mike Warren led off with a walk and hustled to third base as he was running with the pitch on a single hit by Tony Ramirez. Warren would come in to score on a groundout by Horacio Correa III.
With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) walked and advanced to third base on a single through the right side of the infield by Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.). Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) would drive in Fields with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Roadrunners would take the lead for good in the fourth inning thanks to a leadoff home run to left field by RJ Perucki. In the top of the sixth inning, John Bormann singled, advanced to second on a single by Jesse Baker, and came around to score on a single to left field by John Welborn. That would end the outing of Seattle U starter Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.), who took the loss after allowing eight hits, two walks, and three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
UTSA starter Brock Hartson cruised through seven innings, giving up just six hits, two walks, and one run while picking up three strikeouts. The Redhawks threatened to score in the sixth inning as Roberts and Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) led off with back-to-back singles, but Hartson was able to prevent the runners from scoring, picking up a strikeout to end the threat.
The Roadrunners loaded the bases in the eighth inning on a single by Ramirez and back-to-back Redhawk errors on UTSA sacrifice bunt attempts. Baker and Riley Good would drive in one run apiece on singles, and Daniel Rockett’s fly ball to right field was caught by a diving Cray, but that allowed Baker to score. Baker would drive in two more runs in the ninth inning with a bases-loaded single down the left field line.
Roberts led the Redhawk offense with a 2-for-4 performance, including a double. Perucki and Baker each collected three hits for the Roadrunners, with Ramirez and Bormann earning two hits and two runs scored apiece.
Seattle University (10-19, 2-5 WAC) will look to rebound against UTSA Saturday, April 6, at Bannerwood Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., but with current and forecast weather conditions of rain, fans are encouraged to stay updated by visiting GoSeattleU.com or by following the official Redhawk pages on Facebook (Seattle U Athletics) and Twitter (@su_athletics).