BILOXI, Miss. –Hunter Grimes' lead-off home run in the bottom of the sixth jumpstarted the offense as UTSA slugged its way into the semifinals of The First 2019 Conference USA Baseball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve Friday at MGM Park.
Trailing 7-4, the Roadrunners (28-29) went to work, banging out 10 hits and scoring 11 of the final 12 runs, including nine consecutive in a 15-8 rout of Western Kentucky (26-29-1).
A native of Kerrville, Texas, Grimes went 4 for 5 at the plate, falling a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. His homer made It 7-5 and Bailey Sutton appeared to be out of trouble when he retired the next two Roadrunners.
A walk by Bryan Sturges and a single by Dylan Rock put runners on first and second. Sutton committed consecutive balks, moving the pair up two bases and cutting the deficit to 7-6 when Sturges touched the plate. Nick Thornquist worked a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch, giving his side the lead.
In the seventh, Grimes narrowly missed his second homer in as many at-bats, doubling off the wall in left center to open the frame. Doubles by Ryan Stacy, Bryan Sturges and Griffin Paxton helped the Roadrunners to a five-run inning, pushing the advantage out to 13-7.
Bradley Griggs worked the final four innings out of UTSA's bullpen, retiring 12 of the 16 batters he faced and earning the victory. He allowed one run on three hits, two walks and striking out four.
Stacey and Dylan Rock delivered three hits each for the Roadrunners, while Paxton registe3rered two and four other batters in the lineup tallied a knock each.
UTSA faces top seed and regular-season champion No. 29 Florida Atlantic 6:30 p.m.
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