SAN ANTONIO – A three-run first inning by Texas-San Antonio proved to be the difference Thursday night as the Roadrunners escaped with a 7-4 win over Northwestern State in the opening game of a Southland Conference baseball series.

The series continues with a 6 p.m. start on Friday.

The Demons, 14-15 overall and 8-7 in the SLC, scored a run in the eighth and two in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate before UTSA closer Zach Calhoon earned his fourth save of the season by getting the final two outs of the game.

“We had a few chances and really hit some balls hard,” said head coach J.P. Davis.  “But we had nothing to show for it.  We make a run there in the ninth, but again, if we don’t give up three in the first, it’s 4-2 going into the ninth.

UTSA (18-15, 9-7 SLC) cracked 12 hits in the game with four of those coming in the first inning.  However, the Roadrunners got just four hits in the game from the first five hitters in the order.

Rodriguez (0-3) took the loss but settled down after the first inning and only allowed one run and five hits until he gave up a two-out walk, wild pitch, and RBI single in the seventh that put the Roadrunners up 5-1.

“Ben threw really well out there tonight,” said Davis.  “That’s what we’re looking for and what we need is for a senior to step up.  He looked like the Ben Rodriguez of old.”

UTSA crossed two more runs in the inning off three hits on reliever Trevor Geist to go up 7-1.

The Demons, who finished with nine hits in the game, got a game lead-off double from shortstop Trent Grondin, who went 3-for-5, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Jordan Nipp.  But Grondin would stay stranded at third after Justin O’Neal popped out and Chase Lyles flied out to end the threat.

In the second, Beau Snodgrass led off with a single then was thrown out at second on a one-out fielder’s choice from Dan Meyer.  Dominic Gamboa walked and moved Meyer to second then Garrett Vaughn struck out to leave the team’s second runner in as many innings stranded in scoring position.

“It’s frustrating because we’re still not playing a complete ball game,” said Davis.  “We had a couple of base running miscues and not getting timely hits.”

NSU got its first run in the sixth when Nipp singled, stole second, went to third on a Snodgrass fielder’s choice and scored on a UTSA throwing error.

Trailing 7-1 in the eighth, Grondin led off the inning with a single up the middle, went to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a one out, RBI double from O’Neal to make it 7-2.

Lyles followed with a single to move O’Neal to third but Snodgrass hit into a 1-4-3 double play to strand O’Neal at third.

In the ninth, Meyer reached on a one out walk and went to second on a single from pinch hitter Joe Urtuzuastegui.  Pinch hitter Lance Lacoste loaded the bases after he reached by way of catcher’s interference.

Grondin singled in Meyer to make it 7-3 but Nipp followed with a grounder to short to get a run in to make it 7-4 but Grondin was thrown out at second on the play for the second out as NSU had runners at first and third.  O’Neal then grounded out to second base to end the game.

Rodriguez finished the game with 6-2/3 innings pitched and gave up five runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

UTSA starter Red Patterson (4-2) got the win after he threw eight innings and gave up two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks.