HOUSTON – UTSA got back in the win column Tuesday, as the Roadrunners defeated Houston Baptist 10-5.
UTSA (11-5) used six pitchers and balanced hitting to defeat Houston Baptist (6-12) and gave itself a much-needed win coming off of a weekend sweep.
The game featured a multitude of pitchers, as there was a combined 14 pitchers used between the two teams. Luke Malone got the start for UTSA and went for two innings giving up a hit and a run while striking out four. After Malone came Braylon Owens who made his first appearance since opening day. Owens contributed 1.2 innings allowing only one hit and striking out two before Grant Miller entered the game. Following Miller's appearance was Hunter Mayo and Daniel Shafer. Shafer threw for two innings before Daniel Garza entered the game. Garza made his first appearance of the season and it was a good one. The sophomore righty went for three innings, holding the Huskies scoreless, striking out four and earning himself his second career win.
On offense, the Roadrunners used a balanced attack to defeat HBU as eight different Roadrunners had hits. Perhaps having the best day was first baseman, Ryan Flores. Flores reached on all six of his plate appearances, as the lefty drew four walks and smashed a two-run homerun. Garrett Poston led the team in RBI on the day as the redshirt sophomore had three. Two coming off a 2RBI double that put the Roadrunners in front. Shane Sirdashney also had himself a day at the plate, going 3-5 with a walk and leading the team in hits. Ian Bailey and Chase Keng also had multi-hit games on the day.
The scoring began in the top of the first as a Sirdashney single scored Jonathan Tapia who had reached previously via a leadoff walk.
The Huskies didn't take long to punch back as in the bottom of the first they had a run come across the plate thanks to a Diego Davila sac fly to center.
Bailey drew a walk in the third inning as Flores stepped to the plate and belted a two-run homer to right that put the Roadrunners back in front, 3-1.
HBU's offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth as the Huskies went for four runs. They used two RBI base hits, an RBI walk and an RBI groundout to take the lead and make the score 5-3.
The seventh inning began with back-to-back walks as both Flores and Sirdahsney got on base. A Poston sacrifice fly to center scored Flores to make the game 5-4. Following Poston's sac fly, Sammy Diaz and Bailey both drew walks to load the bases with two outs. With the bases loaded Tapia drew a walk and a UTSA run came across to tie the game at 5-5.
The eighth inning started with another Flores walk which was followed by a Sirdashney single to center. Poston found himself back at the plate with runners in scoring position and delivered a single through the left side to bring them both home and retook the lead for the Roadrunners, 7-5.
The Roadrunners tacked on three runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach. After Tapia reached on an error, Keng singled to right to get runners on first and second. That's when Bailey stepped to the plate and smacked a two-run triple. When HBU attempted to throw him out at third, the ball went out of play and Bailey was awarded home putting UTSA up five. The Roadrunners went on to win 10-5.
Tuesday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Ryan Flores (3)
Houston Baptist: N/A
WP – Daniel Garza (1-0): 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts, 0 walks
SV – N/A
LP – Andrew Reitmeyer (1-1): 1.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout, 1 walk
Up Next
UTSA will return home this weekend to open up Conference USA play against Louisiana Tech. The two schools will play a three-game weekend series across 3/18-3/20. Each game will be played at Roadrunner Field and be streamed on CUSA.tv.
- UTSA -
