CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — Christian Hallmark hit a two-run homer and Lane Haworth drove in two runs with a key double as Texas-San Antonio held off a late rally to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7-5 in nonconference baseball Tuesday night.

The Roadrunners (11-1) built an early lead and relied on a dominant performance from their bullpen to secure their eighth consecutive victory. The Islanders (8-5) scored three first-inning runs but were stifled for much of the night by UTSA relievers.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi mounted its most serious threat. Trailing 7-3, the Islanders scored two unearned runs, capitalizing on a throwing error by UTSA shortstop Aidan Eshelman. Christian SmithJohnson scored on the error, and Jackson Smith came home on an RBI single by Isaiah Afework, cutting the deficit to 7-5 with the tying run at the plate.

UTSA reliever Sam Simmons entered the game with two on and one out. He promptly struck out pinch-hitter Walker Freeman to end the threat and preserve the two-run lead. Simmons, along with Mike DeBattista and Christopher Gutierrez, combined for 6 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief, striking out eight. DeBattista earned the win with 4 1/3 perfect innings of relief, fanning four.

The Roadrunners’ offense provided just enough support. After the Islanders’ three-run first, highlighted by Afework’s two-run homer, UTSA chipped away. They took the lead for good in the fifth. Garrett Gruell tripled and scored on a Caden Miller groundout. After a walk, Haworth delivered a two-run double to right-center, putting UTSA ahead 5-3.

Hallmark provided crucial insurance in the sixth, launching a two-run homer to right field after a leadoff walk to Jacob Silva, extending the lead to 7-3.

The Islanders’ early offense came against UTSA starter Ryan Self, who lasted just two-plus innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits. Connor Schlect started for the Islanders and took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit over three innings.

Afework led the Islanders, going 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. Smith and Cade Sanchez each had two hits for Corpus Christi.

For UTSA, Haworth finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks, while Hallmark was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Diego Diaz and Silva added RBI singles in a two-run ninth inning that provided the final margin.

The Roadrunners’ bullpen, a key factor in their strong start, closed the door after the seventh. Simmons worked 2 1/3 perfect innings, striking out four, to record the save. The trio of Gutierrez, DeBattista and Simmons faced just two batters over the minimum from the third inning onward.

Texas-San Antonio, which entered the game ranked 15th nationally in several polls, continues its road swing with a three-game series at New Mexico State starting Friday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opens Southland Conference play at home against Nicholls State on Friday.