HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Home runs from Ian Bailey and Griffin Paxton, and a four-hit effort from Nick Thornquist, led UTSA baseball to a series-deciding win at Sam Houston State 18-5, on Sunday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.
UTSA (2-1) rolled Southland Conference powerhouse Sam Houston State (1-3) on Saturday and Sunday to avenge a series-opening loss on Friday, posting an 18-5 result on Sunday and a 10-4 win on Saturday. UTSA used an eight-run second inning in Saturday's win and had a seven-run ninth on Sunday.
UTSA opened the scoring with single tallies in the first and second, adding a two-spot in the third, fifth and sixth innings. Sam Houston got on the board with a two-run inning in the fifth, which was answered by a two-run UTSA inning in the sixth and a three-run seventh. After the Kats plated two in the eighth, UTSA erupted with seven in the ninth.
The Roadrunners were paced at the plate by a four-hit game from Thornquist, who had three RBI and a double. Dylan Rock went 3-for-6 with a double, with UTSA also getting two hits from Bailey, Paxton and Austin Ochoa. Bailey and Paxton each drove in three runs. UTSA also got hits from Shea Gutierrez, Jonathan Tapia and Shane Sirdashney.
UTSA started junior Reece Easterling in his Roadrunner debut. After loading the bases without an out in the first inning, Easterling settled in to work four strong innings before allowing a two-run shot from Jack Rogers in the fifth inning that ended his outing. Easterling worked 4.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, walking one and striking out four.
Easterling was replaced with one out in the fifth by Hunter Mason (1-0), who earned the win with 1.2 shutout innings in relief, allowing just two singles. Jay Ward took over to start worked a shutout eighth inning and Ryan Ward tossed the ninth, allowing one run.
Sam Houston started Coltin Atkinson worked two innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk, striking out two. Lance Lusk took over to open the third inning, working three innings, allowing six hits and four runs. Cole Wesneski worked the next two innings, allowing five runs – four earned – on five hits and a walk. Steven Beard, Kyle Backhus and Hayden Collins also worked in relief for the Kats.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Friday with a series against UT Arlington in San Antonio.
The Roadrunners struck in the top of the first inning, getting a single from Rock with one out. After moving into scoring position on a wild pitch, he scored on a two-out single from Thornquist into the gap.
The first three hitters in the bottom of the first reached off Easterling, including singles from Jackson Loftin and Colton Cowser. Jack Rogers was plunked by a pitch to load the bases without an out. He settled in to retire the next three hitters, two by strikeout, to escape the jam.
UTSA rode the momentum from the bottom of the first into the second, getting a leadoff single from Ochoa. Sirdashney scored him with a double down the leftfield line.
The Roadrunners added to their lead in the third, getting a one-out single into center from Bailey and a walk from Thornquist. Ochoa replaced Thornquist on a fielder's choice, forcing Bailey to third with one out. Gutierrez singled to score Bailey and Lamb scored Ochoa with an RBI knock.
In the fifth inning, Thornquist led off with a single and Ochoa pushed him to third with a double. Gutierrez scored Thornquist with an RBI groundout and Lamb followed with a single. Jonathan Tapia forced home Ochoa with a sac fly, hung out to rightfield.
Paxton put the game out of reach in the seventh, belting a three-run homer – the first of his career – scoring Sirdashney and Lamb.
Corbin Vines hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the UTSA lead to 11-4.
UTSA used three hits and two errors to plate seven runs in the ninth.
SHSU got a run back in the bottom of the ninth on two hits.
GAME NOTES: Junior RHP Reece Easterling made his UTSA debut as the starting pitcher … Sophomore CF Shane Sirdashney doubled for the sixth time in his career and the first in 2021 … Sirdashney was hit by his third pitch of the year … Freshman 3B Austin Ochoa doubled for the first time in his career … Hunter Mason appeared in his second game of the year and the 36th appearance of his career … Ian Bailey hit his second homer as a Roadrunner on opening weekend and the eighth of his career, which began at Grambling … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton hit a home run – a three-run johnson in the seventh inning – which marked his first career homer coming in his 277th at-bat … Senior RF Dylan Rock doubled for the first time in 2021 and the 35th time in his career … Jay Ward made his second appearance on the year … Daniel Garza made his UTSA debut … Nick Thornquist has 22 doubles in his career and one in 2021.
- UTSA -
