SAN ANTONIO — Texas-San Antonio started fast in a 6-1 win over East Carolina on Saturday to even the American Conference series at 1-1.

The deciding game is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p. m.

The Roadrunners (19-8, 3-2 American) scored five runs in the bottom of the first and stayed in control.

The Pirates started Ryan Towers on the mound with Gavin Van Kempen, who had been starting on Saturdays, out with an injury.

Towers, who had been starting midweek games, yielded hits to the first five batters he faced and was pulled. Caden Miller led off with a single up the middle. Drew Detlefsen doubled to deep left. Both runners scored on the play on a throwing error.

Garrett Gruel had an RBI single for a 3-0 lead. UTSA went up 4-0 when a run scored on a fielder’s choice and an error. A sacrifice fly by Josh Arquette put the hosts ahead, 5-0.

Conor Myles (3-1) started and went five innings for the win. He allowed five hits and one run (earned) with two walks and one strikeout.

Sam Simmons pitched the last four innings for his third save. He gave up two hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Pirates (16-11-1, 3-2) avoided a shutout when a run came home on a double play in the sixth.

Detlefsen’s solo homer to center in the seventh concluded the scoring.

Gavin Marley and Jackson DiLorenzo pitched scoreless 3-inning stints for ECU. Towers (2-1) took the loss.

Each team had seven hits and committed two errors. Braden Burress went 2-for-3 for the Pirates.

ECU coach Cliff Godwin was ejected after a video review in the seventh. Burress was called out at first on a grounder to short and the call stood after review.