SAN ANTONIO — Skyler Valentine ran for home in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch and scored the winning run Friday night to defeat Connecticut by a score of 2-1 at Roadrunner Field.
Valentine scored both the Roadrunners' runs against the Huskies in the season opener and went 2-for-4 with a home run.
The sophomore hit a first pitch long ball in the bottom of the second to tie the score after UConn (0-1) hit a solo shot of their own in the top half.
UTSA (1-0) outhit UConn, 4-2, and won its fourth straight season opener. UConn has yet to win an opener since 2012.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Roadrunners had an opportunity to take the lead with bases loaded and one out. Matt Hilston went for the sac bunt to move Tyler Straub and J.T. Gilmore up one base and on the following at-bat, C.J. Pickering drew the walk on a 3-1 count. Geonte Jackson faced a full count but went down swinging to end the inning.
Both starting pitchers had masterful performances with sophomore Chance Kirby getting the Friday night nod. The right-hander went 7.1 innings and struck out six batters and allowed just one walk.
However, Patrick Herbelin was the pitcher of record working 0.1 inning. Herbelin did not allow a walk or run but recorded one strikeout.
Kirby’s counterpart, Anthony Kay, worked six innings and struck out a game-high eight batters and gave up four walks. Devin Over was charged with the loss in two innings of work.
Both teams will return to the diamond at 2 p.m. on Saturday.