HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Ian Bailey, Joshua Lamb and Nick Thornquist each belted home runs during an eight-run second inning, fueling UTSA baseball to a series-evening 10-4 win at Southland Conference power Sam Houston State, on Saturday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.
UTSA (1-1) exploded by sending 14 hitters to the plate in an eight-run second inning, erasing a two-run Sam Houston State (1-2) lead with the furious rally that saw a trio of Roadrunners crank homers, including three-run blasts from Bailey and Lamb. The Kats got two runs back via single tallies in the sixth and ninth.
The Roadrunners were led by the homers from Bailey, Lamb and Thornquist, with Bailey and Lamb each driving in three. The trio each had two hits, joining Griffin Paxton with a pair of knocks. Shea Gutierrez notched a run-scoring hit, Dylan Rock scored a pair of runs and Austin Ochoa added a single after his first career homer last night.
UTSA starter Grant Miller worked three innings, allowing three hits and two runs, walking two and striking out three.
He was relieved in a jam in the fourth by Shane Daughety, who got an inning-ending double play to escape the jam. Daughety worked a strong five innings, allowing three hits and a run, striking out three.
John Chomko finished off the ninth for the Roadrunners.
Sam Houston started Matt Dillard, who allowed eight runs on five hits and a walk, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Logan Hewitt worked 2.2 shutout in relief of Dillard before giving way to Matt Rudis, who worked three shutout innings in relief of Hewitt.
The series will conclude on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium. SHSU will start righty Coltin Atkinson on Sunday, with UTSA turning to junior righty Reece Easterling.
SHSU struck in the bottom of the first inning after Dillard struck out the side in the top of the frame. Jackson Loftin led off with a walk and Colton Cowser followed with a single. Jack Rogers, who had three doubles last night, scored Loftin with a single and after a fielder's choice, Blake Faecher forced home Cowser with an RBI knock.
The Roadrunners plated eight runs in the second inning, sending 14 hitters to the plate. Thornquist led off the inning with a solo shot and Ochoa followed with a hit by pitch. After an out, Paxton ripped a double to left, scoring Thornquist and Ochoa. Shane Sirdashney was plunked by a pitch and Joshua Lamb score the pair with a three-run homer, the first of his career, coming in his 253rd career at-bat. Gutierrez singled and Rock drew a walk, setting up a three-run homer for Ian Bailey out to centerfield.
Mason Shulz got a run back for the Kats in the bottom of the sixth, belting a solo shot.
In the ninth, UTSA added a pair of runs, starting with a leadoff double from Lamb. Gutierrez drove in Lamb with a sac fly and Rock reached on an error. Ochoa forced home Rock with a RBI single.
The Kats got a run back in the ninth, getting a one-out single from Rogers, scoring on Christian Smith's double.
GAME NOTES: Junior southpaw Grant Miller made his first career start … Junior shortstop Joshua Lamb hit his first career home run, coming in his 253rd at-bat … Catcher Nick Thornquist hit his eighth career home run and the first of 2021 … In his second career game at UTSA, Ian Bailey hit his first homer as a Roadrunner and the seventh of his career, including three seasons at Grambling … Senior Griffin Paxton doubled for the first time in 2021 and the 15thtime in his career … Dylan Rock was hit by his 21st career pitch and his first of 2021 … Senior RHP Shane Daughety made his 28th career appearance and his first of 2021 … Lamb has 10 career doubles and three in 2021.
- UTSA -
