SAN ANTONIO – After posting a 4-2 mark during the recent six-game road trip, UTSA baseball returns home Friday to initiate a four-game home stand.
The Roadrunners host Grambling State Friday through Sunday before a short stint at Roadrunner Field against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Monday.
Grambling State (5-4) at UTSA (7-2)
Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 1
Roadrunner Field, San Antonio, Texas
Game Times: 4 p.m./2 p.m./1p.m.
All-time Series: First-Ever Meeting
Live Stats: goutsa.com/bsb_stats
Live Video: goutsa.com/bsb_video
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi (3-5) at UTSA (7-2)
Monday, March 2
Roadrunner Field, San Antonio, Texas
Game Time: 6:30 p.m.
All-time Series: 37-24 • Home: 19-9
Live Stats: goutsa.com/bsb_stats
Live Video: goutsa.com/bsb_video
GRAMBLING STATE MATCHUP: The Roadrunners and Grambling meet for the first time on the baseball diamond.
TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI MATCHUP: UTSA holds a 37-24 edge in 61 games against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, which dates to Feb. 13, 2002. Since the inaugural game, the two sides have met at least once a year. The Roadrunners are 8-2 in the last ten, 4-1 in the last five after winning both games last season. They outscored the Islanders 26-11, pushing the current winning streak to four games.
LAST TIME OUT: The bats came to life late for the Roadrunners in a 4-2 triumph against Lamar in Beaumont, Texas Tuesday. All-four runs scored on extra-base hits from the UTSA offense. Dylan Rock's two-out RBI in the sixth evened the score at 1-1 and Taylor Barber gave his side a 2-1 edge in the next inning with his first HR of the campaign. Bryan Sturges delivered the game-winning hit, driving in two with a two-out double in the eighth. Palmer Wenzel earned his first win of the season on the mound. Hunter Mason handed the ball to Wenzel after working a career-high 5.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits and fanning three.
The Roadrunners and Grambling meet for the first-time ever on the baseball diamond.
Grambling enters with a 5-4 mark after sweeping a midweek doubleheader from Texas College 7-1, 9-4, at home Tuesday. The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 advantage with three in the first and four in the second before the Steer tallied their lone marker in the fifth. In the nightcap, Texas College posted a three spot in the first. Grambling State rallied with one in the second and two in the fourth, evening things at 3-3. After a solo run in the top of the fifth by the Steer, the Tigers rattled off six unanswered – scoring in each of the final five frames.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi is 3-5 on the season, including wins in the last two and 3-of-4 games. The Islanders' defeated Missouri 5-2 at home Monday then claimed an 8-4 road victory at Prairie View A&M Tuesday. They host Manhattan in a three-game series Friday through Sunday before Monday's tilt.
ABOUT UTSA: UTSA is hitting .256 while the pitching staff is holding opponents to .208, with a .318 ERA. The Roadrunners average 6.13 runs per game and keeping the opposition to 3.50. Leyton Barry leads the team in slugging percentage (.632), on-base percentage (.458) and RBIs (7), while Griffin Paxton's .333 batting average is tops on the squad. Rock's nine hits and three doubles pace the Roadrunners. Barber has been hit by six pitches, which ranks fourth in the nation.
ABOUT GRAMBLING STATE: Through nine games, Grambling State is hitting .267 (76-285) including 14 doubles, three triples and six home runs with 60 runs. The Tigers pitching staff owns a 5.42 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .289 (83-287), including 15 doubles, six triples and two home runs, surrendering 60 runs. Rafael Ramirez leads the offense with a .375 batting average (12-32) including three doubles and two HRs, scoring nine runs and 13 RBIs. Kerry Boykins leads the pitching staff with a 2.08 ERA in 13.0 innings of work, allowing three earned runs on 14 hits and three walks, fanning eight in three appearances with two starts.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI: Heading into the Manhattan series, the Islanders' are hitting .244 (64-262) including eight doubles, one home run with 25 runs. The pitching staff owns a 3.42 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .238 (62-260), including eight doubles and two home runs, surrendering 32 runs. Scott Hastings leads the offense with a .391 batting average (9-23), while Luke Marbach has three of the team's nine extra-base hits – all doubles and five runs. Mike Williams' five RBIs pace the squad. Henry Bird leads the pitching staff with a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings of work allowing one earned run on four hits, two walks and striking out 10 in four games.
The first 100 fans will receive a UTSA baseball hat Friday. Kids get to run the bases after the game Saturday and Sunday.
