SAN ANTONIO – Leyton Barry's career day launched UTSA past Grambling State 17-4 at Roadrunner Field Saturday.
Barry went 5-for-6 at the plate, including a triple and two home runs, with four runs scored and six RBIs. He was a double away from hitting for the cycle. Bryan Arias was the last Roadrunner to accomplish the feat, going 4-for-5 against UIW May 11, 2016. Barry's five-hit game matches the school record but the last time it happened has was nearly six years when Jesse Baker registered five knocks against UIW March 25, 2015.
The Roadrunners upped their mark to 9-2 on the season, while the Tigers fall below .500 at 5-6.
Grambling State's starting pitcher Marc Luna escaped a first-inning jam, aided by a double-play ball. In the second his fortune reversed as the Roadrunners struck for four runs on three hits – including home runs by Jonathan Tapia and Barry.
Once the home team's offense began to click, Luna and the rest of the Tigers pitching staff had the untenable task of impeding the onslaught. UTSA piled on with at least one run in each inning over the remainder of the contest, including a five-run eighth.
Unable to initiate any consistency against the Roadrunners starting pitcher, Shane Daughety, Grambling State faced an 8-0 deficit when he was lifted prior to the sixth inning. Trailing 9-0 in the seventh, the Tigers rallied with four runs on three hits and a miscue, cutting the margin down to five.
UTSA answered with two in the bottom of the frame and five more in the eighth.
UP NEXT:
The finale of the three-game series concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday.
- UTSA -
