FINAL! Bryan Sturges with the walk-off double down the leftfield line, scoring Stacy. The Roadrunners have rallied back to win the opener! #BirdsUp 🤙 pic.twitter.com/AK8LXa5SIl
— UTSA Baseball ⚾️ (@UTSABSB) April 13, 2019
SAN ANTONIO – After trading body shots for nearly three hours, sophomore transfer Bryan Sturges delivered the knock-out blow as UTSA claimed a walk-off victory over Old Dominion at Roadrunner Field Friday.
The Roadrunners, trailed twice and never led until Sturges' game winner gave his team a 4-3 triumph, improved to 15-19 overall and 6-7 in Conference USA. The Monarchs drop to 19-14 on the season and 3-10 in league action.
Karan Patel spun a gem on the mound and recorded his sixth consecutive quality start for UTSA but had to settle for a no-decision. He tossed 7.2 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, walking one and striking out six but was on the hook for the loss.
Bradley Griggs, who relieved Patel with the game knotted at 1-1, allowed a pair of inherited runners to score when Matt Burch doubled off the left field wall, giving ODU its second lead of the night.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Dylan Rock reached with an infield single. Nick Thornquist followed and with one swing of the bat, he evened the game at 3-3, driving in his second and third run of the night . Facing a 1-2 count, Thornquist blasted his fourth home run of the season into the netting beyond the wall in left center.
Hunter Mason earned his second victory of the season, retiring the Monarchs in order during the ninth and 10thinnings, setting the stage for Sturges. He sat down the six batters he faced, including two by strikeout, on 17 pitches.
Ryan Stacy opened the inning with a walk and stole second. He waltzed home with the winning run, after the third base umpire signaled Sturges' ball landed of the left field line and was fair.
Early in the game, Stacy made a key play when he robbed ODU's Andy Garriola of a homer in the second. With a strong wind, the ball was not a threat off the bat but kept carrying. Stacy tracked it all the way and made a leaping catch at the wall, pulling the ball back into play and keeping the game scoreless.
In the fourth Will Morgan put the Monarchs ahead with a solo home run.
Sturges led off the home half of the frame when he was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Rock worked a base-on-balls. Thornquist singled through the left side, scoring Sturges. ODU got out of the jam with the help of a double play.
Old Dominion starter Tommy Gertner worked three-plus innings, allowing two hits and one run, walking three and striking out four. Aaron Holiday tossed four shutout innings but settled for a no-decision after the Roadrunners tied it in the eighth against Hunter Gregory.
Due to possible overnight storms in the area, the middle game of the series has been moved back to 4 p.m. Saturday. UTSA will honor all military personnel Saturday with the Salute to Service game.
- UTSA -