SAN ANTONIO — FIU rapped 13 hits and took advantage of nine walks by UTSA pitching to defeat the Roadrunners 12-4 at Roadrunner Field on Saturday afternoon.

FIU (14-16, 3-5 Conference USA) evened the series with UTSA (11-15, 2-6 C-USA).

In the top of the fourth inning, Eddie Silva doubled off Chance Kirby (0-2) to score Kolby Follis with the decisive run before FIU poured it on two innings later with a five-run sixth. Follis walked to lead off the fourth.

Base on balls helped FIU get going Saturday. UTSA starter Karan Patel hit Silva with the first pitch of the game and then walked three Panthers before being lifted after 1/3 of an inning. FIU made the walks hurt after Nick Day's two-run single. Irving Lopez contributed an RBI single in the first inning to help stake the Panthers to a 3-0 lead.

UTSA answered with three runs off FIU starter Chris Mourelle (4-2) in the bottom of the first. But Mourelle settled down to go six innings, allowing six hits, four runs and striking out six. Alex Demchak pitched three scoreless relief innings to record his second save.

Ahead 7-4 in the top of the sixth, the Panthers were aided by three more walks, including a bases loaded walk to Follis. Kenny Meimerstorf and Lopez had RBI singles in the sixth and Rey Perez drove home a run with a sacrifice fly.

Day was 2 for 3 with three RBI. Meimerstorf and Lopez each had two hits. Jack Schaaf hit his second home run of the season — a solo shot in the third inning.  

The Panthers and Roadrunners play the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.