SAN ANTONIO -- A pair of four-run frames to open the game backed a four-inning start from Shane Daughety in his NCAA debut, leading UTSA baseball to a 10-7 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the midweek opener of 2019 for the Roadrunners, on a cold Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (2-2) used four-run innings in the first and second to build an early lead, adding a two-run fourth inning for a 10-1 lead after four complete. The Islanders rallied with six unanswered over the final innings, but the Roadrunners were able to hold off the charge for the win.
A native of Tomball, Texas, Daughety (1-0) turned in a strong NCAA debut, working four innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out three. He allowed a single run after a leadoff walk scored in the first inning before settling in to toss shutout frames in his final three innings.
The Roadrunners turned to righty Hunter Mason in relief of Daughety with an eight-run lead to open the fifth inning. Mason got four outs, allowing four runs – one earned – before Jake Harrison took over in the sixth inning. Harrison worked the 2.2 innings before giving way to Cameron Carver who earned his second straight save.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-3) starter Chad Romere (1-1) worked an inning, allowing four runs, and Chris Glover replaced him with four runs in a second inning. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also used Mason Hopkins, A.G. Ayala, and Dustin Lacaze in relief.
The Roadrunners were led at the plate by a three-hit game from sophomore rightfielder Dylan Rock. Nick Thornquist, Chase Hacker and Aldo Buendia each drove in two runs. UTSA also got hits from Griffin Paxton and Bryan Arias, and a run from freshman Layton Barry.
UTSA will return to action on Friday, hosting a four-game series at Roadrunner Field with Dartmouth starting at 6 p.m. The series will resume on Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude at 1 p.m.
Texas A&M struck first, plating a run on one hit in the top of the first inning. Itchy Burts led off with a walk and stole second. After a single from Enrique Sanchez pushed Burts to third with no outs, Thomas Jefferies hung a sacrifice fly to right field to score Burts.
The Roadrunners rallied in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff single from Jonathan Tapia. After Griffin Paxton replaced Tapia at first on a fielder's choice, a passed ball pushed him to scoring position. After the second out, Rock singled through the left side to score Tapia. Thornquist then drew a walk and Chase Hacker singled, with Chase Keng loading the bases with a walk. Aldo Buendia singled to the shortstop to force home a run and Layton Barry drew a walk to plate the fourth run of the game.
In the bottom of the second inning, UTSA added to its lead with three runs on three hits. Paxton led off with a single to right field and after a lineout, Rock singled to push Paxton into scoring position. Thornquist then bounced a bad-hop liner into leftfield that dribbled to the wall, allowing Thornquist to motor to third base with a two-run triple. Hacker scored Thornquist with an RBI fielder's choice, with Thornquist sliding in ahead of the throw to the plate from the drawn-in infield. After Hacker motored to third with one out, Buendia grounded out to score him and give UTSA an 8-1 lead.
UTSA plated two runs in the fourth inning, getting an RBI bases-loaded walk from Paxton and a sacrifice fly from Arias.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took advantage of an error in the top of the fifth inning, plating a run on a hit to cut the lead to 10-2.
The Islanders cut into the lead in the sixth, plating three runs on three hits and an error.
In the top of the seventh inning, TAMU-CC plated a run after a leadoff hit batter, balk, deep fly out and RBI groundout.
The Islanders added a run in the ninth.
- UTSA -
