SAN ANTONIO – UTSA clinched its second-consecutive series win with a 6-5 walk-off win over No. 27 Southern Miss at Roadrunner Field Saturday.
Trailing by two runs with two outs in the ninth, the Roadrunners improved to 13-14 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA with a three-run rally over the Golden Eagles, who fell to 16-8 and 6-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jonathan Tapia worked a lead-off walk but was erased when Layton Barry grounded into a fielder's choice. The potential tying run reached with a base-on-balls by Bryan Arias, prompting a second pitching change by the visitors.
Ryan Och came out of the bullpen and struck out the first batter he faced, positioning his side one out away from evening the series at one game apiece. Dylan Rock beat out an infield single and loading the bags. Bryan Sturges smacked a single over the outstretched glove of a leaping second baseman and into right center, knotting the game at 5-5 when Barry and Arias scored.
In an attempt to cut down Arias at the plate, an errant throw by the Golden Eagles' right fielder skipped away from the cut-off man. Rock – which was held at third on the play – scampered home after the ball skipped away from the defender and slid in safely with the winning run.
With the victory, UTSA claimed its second C-USA series win in three attempts this season, after taking two against Rice last week.
Following Friday's 12-2 win over the 27thranked team in the country, the Roadrunners jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Back-to-back singles by Arias and Ryan Stacy opened the home first. After a strikeout and a wild pitch, Sturges drove in Arias, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Arias delivered a two-out RBI single, scoring Garrett Moon, who led off the frame with a base-on-balls.
Southern Miss – which never led in the opener – pushed across three runs in the fifth, courtesy of two hits and a miscue by the Roadrunners.
UTSA responded in the bottom of the frame when Stacy smashed a triple off the wall in right center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rock.
Back-to-back two-out hits in the sixth, scored Matt Wallner, who led off with a base knock, pushing the Golden Eagles back in front at 4-3. They added one in the eighth with a stolen base sandwiched between a pair of two-out singles.
Arias went 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs scored and one run-batted-in. Stacy and Paxton tallied two hits each for the Roadrunners and four others recorded one. Sturges drove in three of the team's five RBIS, while Arias and Rock accounted for the other two.
Jake Harrison tossed a scoreless ninth, earning his first win of the season while the Eagles' Och was saddled with the loss.
Junior RHP, Hunter Mason starts on the mound for UTSA in the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m., while Southern Miss counters with freshman RHP, Gabe Shepard.
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