UTSA endured 13 innings worth of frustration before putting together clutch at-bats with relief pitching late Saturday.
UTSA scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and produced a walk-off bunt in the eighth of a scheduled seven-inning game to win 3-2 in the second game of a doubleheader with Middle Tennessee at Roadrunner field.
Middle Tennessee won the first game 5-3 after UTSA took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Roadrunners reliever Hunter Mason entered the second game with one out in the sixth inning. He held Middle Tennessee scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings, on one hit with two strikeouts and no walks.
UTSA put the second game in the books in the bottom of the eighth when Leyton Barry bunted with one out and Joshua Lamb scored from third. Lamb led off the inning with a single and went to third on Kyle Bergeron’s single to right center.
UTSA was scoreless the first six innings and Middle Tennessee took a 2-0 lead into the seventh.
The Roadrunners got things going in the bottom of the seventh after their first two batters, Ryan Hunt and Griffin Paxton, both singled. Hunt advanced from first to third on Paxton’s hit, then scored on a ground-out by Dylan Rock, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Paxton went to second on Rock’s grounder and to third when Chase Keng grounded out to short. Paxton scored on a wild pitch, tying it 2-2 and sending it to extra innings.
Hunt, by the way, was making his first UTSA start. The junior outfielder is a transfer from Midland Community College.
UTSA starting pitcher Reece Easterling pitched 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs, only one earned, on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
The four-game series concludes Sunday with one game at 11 a.m. – an earlier start than on the original schedule.