By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Charlotte 49ers snapped a 10-game losing streak Sunday afternoon behind fifth-year senior Adam Stanton, who led his team to a 7-5 victory over UTSA in an American Conference series finale at Roadrunner Field.

Stanton (2-1) earned the win after emerging from the bullpen to shut down a first-inning rally in a pitching performance that carried through until the eighth inning.

Senior Drew Munn picked up Stanton and closed by getting the last four outs for his first save.

UTSA starter Kendall Dove (3-1) took the loss.

Charlotte offensive standouts Todd Hudson and Dylan Koontz had three hits apiece and figured prominently in an effort that kept the Roadrunners from sweeping the series and taking over sole possession of first place in the American.

Earlier in the day, the South Florida Bulls gave the Roadrunners a chance at a one-game lead in the conference when they beat the UAB Blazers 1-0 in Tampa, Fla.

About the same time that the Bulls won, the Roadrunners were in the midst of a late rally that, ultimately, fell short on another cool and windy day on the northwest side of San Antonio.

As a result, the Roadrunners (27-13, 10-5) and the Blazers (25-15, 10-5) settled into a tie for first going into the new week.

UTSA will get a crack at 10th-ranked Texas A&M on Tuesday afternoon before traveling to New Orleans on the weekend for a series at Tulane.

The Roadrunners defeated the Aggies 7-4 in College Station last season on the way to their first NCAA tournament berth in a dozen years.

“It’s a great opportunity,” UTSA coach Pat Hallmark said. “We’re going to have to do it with some folks who don’t always get opportunities, especially on the mound.”

Going into the game at College Station, the Roadrunners likely won’t have front-line pitchers Connor Kelley or Sam Simmons available in the mid-week, the coach said.

Slugging outfielder Drew Detlefsen also might be a question mark after the team’s leader in home runs and RBIs was seen limping during and after Sunday’s loss.

Regardless, playing at Texas A&M is just a fun experience, the coach said.

“I love playing at A&M,” Hallmark said. “I love it. I love it. I love it. So, hopefully we embrace it and enjoy it and, win or lose, play good, clean baseball.”

Hallmark said he’s eager to see how some of his younger players perform at the home of the Aggies, one of the traditional programs in the state.

“I like the fact that we’re going to go with some of our younger, more inexperienced people, and see what they’re made of,” he said.

After winning the first two games against Charlotte on Friday and Saturday by a combined score of 19-8, the Roadrunners on Sunday faced a 49ers team intent on playing with enthusiasm.

The 49ers were pressed against the rail in the dugout, clapping and cheering, in a contest that started at 11 a.m. Hallmark credited Charlotte coach Robert Woodard for keeping his players engaged.

“I was impressed with Charlotte,” Hallmark said. “I give those guys credit. I give their coaching staff credit. They’re on a bit of a spell, a losing spell.

“At different points of my life, I’ve been there, where you’re struggling as a player and as a coach. He got ’em to come out and play hard, and they played well.

“They played very well. We had a couple of holes in our game. We didn’t play bad. Thought we had a couple of holes that hurt us a little bit.

“But, mostly, I tip my cap to Charlotte and their coaches.”

Trailing 7-2, the Roadrunners made a game of it at the end, scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth to pull within the eventual final score.

But in the ninth, Munn worked around a two-out single by Christian Hallmark to nail down the victory. With the coach’s son aboard, Jacob Silva flied to left for the final out.

Records

Charlotte 19-20, 4-11
UTSA 27-13, 10-5

Coming up

UTSA at Texas A&M, Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Notable

The 49ers’ defense came up big on Sunday. In the first inning, with UTSA leading 1-0, they turned their first of three double plays.

With the bases loaded, Christian Hallmark chopped a ball back to Stanton, who threw home for a force at the plate. Catcher Aaron Orozco’s throw to first baseman Dylan Koontz beat the speedy Hallmark to the bag.

Silva flied out to end the inning and the threat on what could have been a multiple-run uprising.

UTSA outfielder Drew Detlefsen went two for five at the plate in the series finale and knocked in two runs.

The senior from Trophy Club has amassed a conference-leading 51 RBIs in 39 games. Detlefsen produced 70 RBIs last year in his first season with the team.

Injury update

UTSA coach Pat Hallmark said there is no change in the status of injured infielder Nathan Hodge, who hasn’t played this season with an injury to his throwing arm.

“He won’t be able to throw this season,” Hallmark said. “So the only question with Nate is, if we use him, and burn the redshirt, we’re only using him to hit.

“And, nothing’s changed. Nate and I have talked. Nate’s dad and I are close, so, the three of us have talked about it. Nate wants to get in there and play.

“So far, we haven’t felt that the need … it’s like everything in life, you weigh the pros and the cons. The need hasn’t outweighed the cons of losing the year of eligibility.

“We will continue to analyze that as we move along.”

Hallmark said Hodge has progressed physically to the point that he is capable of playing as a designated hitter if the need arises.

“He’s already batted off of our pitchers in what we call live at bats,” the coach said.

Hodge hit .308 with an OPS of .843 last year as a freshman. He also had big moments against both A&M and Texas.

In College Station, he had a hit and two RBIs in the win over the Aggies.

Later, against Texas in the regular season, the younger brother of former UTSA star Ty Hodge contributed with a pinch double and an RBI in a 12-inning, 8-7 victory.

In the NCAA playoffs, Hodge went two for four with three RBIs in the first of two straight wins over the Longhorns.