SAN ANTONIO – Shane Daughety worked six strong innings and UTSA used a three-run rally in the eighth inning to post a 7-4 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, clinching the series on Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field.
UTSA (7-7) clinched the series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4-13) with a Saturday win, plating four runs in the eighth inning to complete a comeback. The game saw a strong starting pitching matchup carry a 1-0 Islanders lead into the seventh inning before UTSA exploded for four runs to take a 4-1 lead.
The Islanders rallied to even the game at four with three in the bottom of the seventh before the Roadrunners used a three-run frame in the eighth to post the win.
UTSA starter Shane Daughety worked six strong innings, allowing just a run on five hits and a walk, striking out nine. After UTSA took the lead in the top of the seventh inning,
UTSA turned to senior righty Arturo Guajardo in the bottom of the frame, getting an out before allowing three runs on a hit and two walks. Freshman Daniel Garza (1-0) came on in relief and worked the final 2.2 innings for the win, striking out six of the eight outs he recorded, allowing a walk and two hits.
UTSA got two-hit games from its middle infielders, Joshua Lamb and Jonathan Tapia, and a two-RBI outing from outfielder Dylan Rock. Eight of nine UTSA starters collected hits, including Griffin Paxton, Kyle Bergeron and Austin Ochoa. Chase Keng and Shane Sirdashney each scored a run.
A day after a four-hit, six-RBI effort, catcher Nick Thornquist had a hit and drew a pair of walks.
TAMU-CC starter Hayden Thomas tossed six innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out five. John Gaddis (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in 1.1 innings.
The series will conclude at 1 p.m. at Chapman Field on Sunday.
The Islanders got on the board with a run in the fifth, starting with consecutive singles that ended in a ground-ball double play forcing home a run.
Tapia opened the seventh with a single and Lamb followed with a base hit. Ochoa scored Tapia with a single and Keng forced home a run with a sacrifice bunt. Bergeron then scored Keng with a RBI double into the gap.
After UTSA turned to the bullpen to open the seventh, the Islanders rallied to even the game, plating three runs on two hits.
UTSA immediately responded in the top of the eighth to take a 7-4 lead. Lamb led off with a single and Sirdashney drew a walk. Paxton then scored Lamb with an RBI double and Rock gave UTSA the three-run lead with a single up the middle.
GAME NOTES: Senior RHP Shane Daughety made his third start of the year in his fourth outing … Senior C Nick Thornquist doubled for the fourth time … Senior Kyle Bergeron hit his third double of the year … Senior RHP Arturo Guajardo worked in his third game of the year … Freshman RHP Daniel Garza worked in his fifth game of the year … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton doubled for the fifth time … Junior SS Joshua Lamb has a team-leading nine-game hitting streak … Thornquist has reached base safely in 13 games … Bergeron has reached base safely in 10 straight.
- UTSA -
