Fifth inning powers Baseball past No. 19 Texas in AustinFifth inning powers Baseball past No. 19 Texas in Austin
Jeff Huehn/UTSA Athletics
Baseball

Fifth inning powers Baseball past No. 19 Texas in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – UTSA erased an early deficit with an eight-run fifth, defeating No. 19 Texas 10-7 Wednesday at UFCU Disch-Faulk Field.
 
This is the first win for the Roadrunners (6-3) over Texas (7-3) in 12 years, dating back to a 2008 victory at Disch-Faulk Field, and just the fourth win all-time in Austin. 

"It's just big," UTSA head coach Jason Marshall said. "This win follows you throughout the season. It follows you RPI wise. Our guys will find some confidence out of this win. Still, it's early and we're still learning about this team. To get a big win like that, it's a signature moment in 2019." 
 
Hunter Mason took over on the mound to start the fourth for UTSA. He shutdown the Longhorns' offense that built 6-0 lead through the first three innings, with three in the first and three more in the third.
 
Mason tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out six, earning his first career win. This was the longest outing of his career.
 

In the fifth, his offense rewarded him with eight runs on four hits and capitalizing on two miscues by the Longhorns' defense.
 
The first six Roadrunners reached safely in the fifth, beginning with Shane Sirdashney's walk, which was the fourth consecutive Roadrunner to open an inning with a walk. A single and another base-on-balls loaded the bags. Griffin Paxton and Bryan Arias delivered back-to-back opposite field hits, driving in two runs each and trimming the deficit to 6-4.
 
A third walk issued by the Texas pitching staff and a throwing error on Taylor Barber's sacrifice bunt loaded the bases again, still with no outs. The Longhorns' third baseman booted a grounder, allowing another run and keeping the bags full. Bryan Sturges made the first out of the inning but it knotted the score at 6-6 when Dylan Rock tagged from third on the sacrifice fly.
 
Joshua Lamb, who went 3-for-5 at the plate, capped the eight-run inning when he deposited a two-out single into right center.
 
Solo tallies in the next two innings pushed UTSA's lead out to 10-6 and the bullpen did the rest.
 
Texas opened the game with the first three Longhorns' reaching safely and opened the scoring when Zach Zubia grounded into a double play. Back-to-back singles extended the advantage to 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the third, the home team recorded three extra-base hits by the first three batters.

Zubia's leadoff homer hit the top of the short wall in left and landed in the Roadrunners bullpen, making the lead 4-0. After a double by Ryan Reynolds, Tate Shaw blasted a two-run homer to right field. UTSA starter, Shane Daughety finished his outing by retiring the next three hitters and giving way to Mason in the fourth.
 
UTSA showed great plate discipline, collecting seven hits and 10 walks, while striking out just six times. 
 
Lamb led UTSA with three knocks and three RBIs. Paxton and Rock extended their hitting streaks to nine games. Paxton and Arias drove in two runs each.
 
The Roadrunners open a three-game series against Bradley at 6 p.m. Friday. The live stream is available at CUSA.tv. 

- UTSA -