GREENVILLE —Davin Whitaker hit a 2-run single through the right side of a drawn-in infield with one out in the bottom of the ninth to lift East Carolina to an 8-7 American Athletic Conference win over Texas-San Antonio on Saturday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (28-23, 12-12 AAC) avoided a 3-game sweep by the Roadrunners (39-11, 20-4 AAC), who won the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, 7-6.

In the nightcap, Ryley Johnson hit a first inning grand slam for a 4-1 ECU lead. UTSA answered with four runs in the second to go on top, 5-4.

The Roadrunners led 7-4 after an RBI single by James Taussig and a sacrifice fly by Lorenzo Morresi in the eighth. Walker Barron and Braden Burress drove in runs in the bottom of the eighth to get the Pirates within, 7-6.

Lance Williams (2-1) came in to get three outs in the top of the ninth with a fly out, pop-up and strikeout for the win.

Colby Wallace singled to start the bottom of the ninth and Austin Irby walked. The runners moved up on a bunt by Johnson, who appeared to strain a leg as he crossed first base on the sacrifice.

Whitaker hit a 1-0 pitch for the game winner off Christian Okerholm (3-1). Pinch runner Alex Peltier scored the winning run.

Burress had three hits with a double in Saturday’s second game and Barron had two hits.

UTSA had the decisive ninth inning in the first game as Mason Lytle had a 3-run double in a 5-run frame to erase a 4-2 ECI advantage.

The Pirates scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Dixon Williams and an RBI single by Wallace (0-1), who took the loss in relief.

Connor Kelley (3-0) got the win and Robert Orloski picked up his seventh save.

Jack Herring and Johnson each had three hits in the opener Saturday.

Sean Jenkins pitched six and one-third innings of relief for the Pirates, He allowed three hits, two runs (one earned) with two walks and six strikeouts.

ECU is scheduled to host Campbell (22-28) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.