HOUSTON – After UTSA rallied from down three in the early innings to take an 8-4 lead into the seventh inning, Cade Edwards hit a three-run walk-off homer – as part of a six-run inning – to lead Rice to a 10-8 seven-inning win on Saturday in the opener of a doubleheader, on Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park.
UTSA (9-8, 1-1 Conference USA) was an out away from securing the second win in the series after plating three runs in the top of the seventh inning for an 8-4 lead. The comeback saw UTSA rally from a 3-0 hole with two in the fourth, three in the fifth and three in the seventh. Edwards erased UTSA's attempt at a second win in the series with his walk-off homer with two down in the final inning.
The Roadrunners had 12 hits and eight runs in the game, led by a three-hit game from Shea Gutierrez. Chase Keng – who homered three times in a 4-for-4, five-RBI game last night – went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double. Griffin Paxton and Kyle Bergeron each added two-hit games, with Nick Thornquist, Joshua Lamb and Jonathan Tapia each collecting hits.
Junior righty Reece Easterling worked two innings, allowing four hits and three runs, walking one and striking out one. After a leadoff single in the third, UTSA turned to freshman righty John Chomko who turned in three-plus innings, allowing two hits, one run and one walk, striking out four.
After a leadoff double in the sixth, UTSA called on Daniel Garza out of the bullpen. Garza got four outs, allowing two hits and three runs, walking one. After a three-run homer with one out in the seventh, UTSA turned to senior righty Hunter Mason. Mason (3-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs in the seventh.
Rice (12-10, 1-1 C-USA) starter Roel Garcia worked four innings, allowing five hits and two runs, walking one and striking out two. Dalton Wood – who had not allowed a run in 11.1 innings to open the year – took over to open the fifth, with UTSA promptly tying the game. Wood worked two outs into the fifth before Rice called on Reed Gallant (2-1). He tossed 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs for the win.
The series will resume with a seven-inning finale in the Saturday doubleheader on CUSA TV. The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Owls got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, getting a two-run homer from Guy Garibay, his fifth of the year and second of the series.
Rice added a run in the third, getting a sacrifice fly from Austin Bulman, scoring Braden Comeaux, who led off with a single.
UTSA started chipping away in the fourth, getting a single from Thornquist and Lamb to open the frame, with Thornquist stealing third to set up a sacrifice fly from Tapia. After Lamb motored to second on a wild pitch, Gutierrez scored him with a two-out, two-strike single up the middle, cutting the lead to 3-2.
The Roadrunners rallied again in the fifth, getting a leadoff single from Paxton and a one-out double from Bergeron. Thornquist forced home Paxton with an RBI groundout up the middle, snapping Rice reliever Wood's stretch of 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings to open the year. After Tapia greeted Gallant with a walk, Keng smashed a two-run, two-out single up the middle, allowing Bergeron and Lamb to score the go-ahead tallies.
The Owls rallied to chase Chomko in the sixth, getting a leadoff double from Austin Bulman, scoring on a single from Nathan Becker.
UTSA rallied with three in the seventh inning, getting an RBI single from Tapia, an RBI double from Keng and a run-scoring double steal for an 8-4 lead.
Rice immediately answered in the bottom of the frame with a three-run homer from Bulman, his second of the year. After a pair reached scoring position with two outs, Cade Edwards ended it with a three-run walk-off homer, hit out to left.
GAME NOTES: Junior RHP Reece Easterling made his third start of the year and his fourth appearance … Freshman RHP John Chomko worked in his sixth game of the year … DH Kyle Bergeron reached safely in a 13th straight game … Senior C Nick Thornquist has a team-leading eight-game hitting streak and has reached in a club-high 16 straight games … Thornquist stole his fifth career base and his third of the year … Junior 3B Jonathan Tapia recorded a sac fly, his third of the year and the eighth of his career … Bergeron doubled for the fourth time … Freshman RHP Daniel Garza worked in his sixth game of the year … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton collected his team-high ninth multi-hit game … Junior LF Chase Keng doubled for the first time in 2021 and the 10th time in his career … Senior RHP Hunter Mason worked in his team-high seventh game of the year.
- UTSA -
