Roadrunners squeak by Bulldogs, 5-3, on Saturday in Texas

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Senior Trevor Lacosse (Watervliet, N.Y.) posted a career-high seven strikeouts over five innings in his first-career start but UTSA used a three-run sixth to defeat the Bryant University baseball team, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

With the win, the Roadrunners (4-2) have clinched the series with the Bulldogs (0-2). The two teams will wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

Bryant didn't go quietly, however, as it attempted to rally in the eighth inning for the second-straight game. Senior Jordan Mountford (Guelph, Ont.) doubled with one out and junior AJ Zarozny (Shrewsbury, Mass.) walked to put runners on first and second. Senior John Mullen (Walpole, Mass.) followed with a single through the right side to bring home Mountford and make it a one-run game. An infield error with two outs loaded the bases but UTSA reliever Nolan Savage got a strikeout to escape the threat and end the inning.

UTSA would add an insurance run thanks to a Bryant error in the bottom of the eighth. Tyler Straub opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. Two batters later, Matt Hilston singled to right and the throw came all the way home. The Bulldogs then threw to second to try and get Hilston advancing and the subsequent throw home was wild, allowing Straub to trot home.

The big blow in Saturday's game came in the sixth inning. John Bormann and Hilston walked to put two runners on and CJ Pickering bought both in with a three-run home run to left-center.

UTSA was able to strike first on Saturday, plating a run with back-to-back doubles in the first. The first two batters went down on strikes but John Bormann blooped a double down the right field line to ignite a rally. Skyler Valentine followed with a double down the right field line to give the Roadrunners the lead.

Held in check over the first four innings, the Bulldogs were able to take the lead in the fifth. Sophomore Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) opened the inning with his first-career triple off the top of the right field wall. Classmate Jacob Marotta (Bridgewater, Mass.) then laid down a perfect bunt up the first base line to score Bingel with the tying run. Two batters later, Mountford jumped all over a hanging curveball and deposited it beyond the wall in right center for his first home run of the season.

Bryant's DI leader in career appearances, Lacosse was brilliant in his first-career start on Saturday. The lefty worked the first five innings, allowing one run on three hits while posting a career-high seven strikeouts. Lacosse retired nine-straight after allowing his only run in the first. Freshman James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) suffered the loss in relief, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out three. Aaron Burns earned the win for UTSA, allowing one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. Cody Brannon recorded the final three outs for his first save.

Mountford finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two runs scored. Pickering finished with two hits and three RBI for UTSA.

The Bulldogs and Roadrunners close their series on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.