SAN ANTONIO – For just the second time in 29 seasons, UTSA baseball reached 10 wins in its first 12 games, after sweeping Grambling State at Roadrunner Field Sunday.
The Roadrunners (10-2) interpellated the game plan of the Tigers (5-7) starting pitcher, Jason Alvarez, who lasted just one inning, allowing five runs on six hits and uncorking four wild pitches. UTSA improves to 6-0 at home this season, extending the overall win streak to four games.
Meanwhile, Jacob Jimenez, who made his first start of the season, tossed three scoreless innings on one hit and three walks, while fanning five.
Bryan Sturges led off the fifth with his second home run of the season when his drive narrowly cleared the barrier in left center. Grambling State's centerfielder, Nehemiah Wright leapt as high as he could to reach over the fence but was unable to hold onto the ball as he returned to the ground. Jonathan Tapia drove in Griffin Paxton with an RBI single up the middle, stretching the margin out to 7-0. The home side tacked on another in the seventh.
Jake Harrison, Zach DeLeon and Jack Engelmann followed Jimenez's lead and shut down the Tigers offense, keeping them off the board through the first eight frames.
Facing an eight-run deficit and just three outs remaining, Grambling State responded by loading the bases with no outs. UTSA needed one out after back-to-back putouts but a smash inside the bag and down the third-base line and into the corner broke up the shutout bid when two runners crossed the plate, cutting the margin to 8-2.
Kyrell Miller entered from the bullpen and coaxed a fly out, securing the win and the sweep.
UP NEXT:
UTSA concludes the four-game homestand with a 6:30 p.m. clash with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Monday.
- UTSA -
