The UTSA Roadrunners (26-18, 12-9 C-USA) stole the weekend series over the visiting Southern Miss Golden Eagles (23-16-1, 10-10 C-USA), winning game one 7-2, game two 11-7 but dropping game three 7-10.

Interim manager Jim Blair handled the managerial duties over the weekend after UTSA Head Coach, Jason Marshall, earned a four game suspension for disputing a call during the series against Rice.

During Friday’s contest, UTSA right-handed pitcher Brock Hartson dazzled in his 11th start of the season. The junior pitched eight strong innings while striking-out seven and allowing two earned runs in his third win on the season.

Hartson was provided with some early run support, as the UTSA bats brought in four runs in the second inning. UTSA maintained the lead, coasting to a 7-2 victory in game one.

“This victory is a huge momentum booster for us because that’s a team that’s right behind us in the standings,” Hartson said. “They’re a good hitting team and when you make a mistake, they’re going to take advantage of it. I just had to get back up there and continue to shove my stuff into the zone and rely on my defense to make plays. When I did that, good things started to happen.”

Junior second baseman Jesse Baker collected three hits over five at bats on the night, smacking his 12th homerun of the year all while batting out of the leadoff spot.

In game three, the Golden Eagles assigned Kirk McCarty the starting duties. The freshman southpaw gave up six earned runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings. Southern Miss also drilled two solo homeruns in the contest.

Currently fourth in C-USA, the Roadrunners face a highly contested race for the division lead as the baseball season dwindles to an end.

“If we can get a couple victories in the series, then it’s just going to continue to build momentum. These are the last few weeks of the season, and if we keep playing good baseball, then good things will keep happening,” Hartson said.

Next, the Roadrunners host conference rivals Middle Tennessee in a three game series starting on Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m.