SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will play its final midweek road contest of the season at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at No. 21 Baylor.
The Roadrunners (11-11) head into Tuesday's game following Sunday's 7-5 victory against Old Dominion. UTSA handed the Monarchs its first loss in Conference USA action, as they were the only undefeated team in the league.
UTSA will face its third ranked opponent of the season and it is 2-4 in those contests.
As a team, the Roadrunners are batting at a .303 clip and that is best for 40th in the nation and fourth in the league. Catcher Tony Beam boasts a team-best .371 batting average, which ranks ninth in C-USA. Beam ties for fourth on the team in hits with 23, including seven extra base hits, and has scored 13 runs.
Meanwhile, right-hander Karan Patel will get his second straight midweek start. The sophomore owns a 7.00 ERA in 18 innings of work and six total appearances. Patel is 1-1 on the season and has struck out 13 batters and walked 16.
Baylor will welcome UTSA with an 18-6 overall record, including a 13-5 mark within the friendly confines of Baylor Ballpark. The Bears have won three of its last five contests and are coming off a series loss to nationally-ranked Oklahoma. BU dropped Sunday's rubber game, 3-0.
UTSA and Baylor have played one common opponent so far this season in Texas State and both teams captured wins over the Bobcats.
Leading the charge for the Bears offense is Richard Cunningham as he is batting .366 in 15 games played. Cunningham has registered 15 hits this season with seven of those going for doubles and another three for triples.
Matt Menard adds a .325 batting average to the lineup and he ranks second on the team in hits (27) and has scored 15 runs and drawn a team-high 13 walks.
On the mound, the Bears will go with right-hander Alex Phillips, who owns a 3.57 ERA in 17.2 innings in five starts. He has struck out 14 and walked four.
Baylor leads the all-time series, 33-7, and it won the last meeting in Waco by a score of 5-4.
