SAN ANTONIO – Leyton Barry laid down a suicide squeeze with an out in the eighth inning of a seven-inning game, allowing Joshua Lamb to score the walk-off run and give UTSA baseball a 3-2 win in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (13-12, 5-5 Conference USA) trailed by two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning of the finale of the doubleheader, as the Blue Raiders had handcuffed the Roadrunners offensive attack through the game. Down to its last strike, UTSA rallied to even the game and force extra innings and after throwing up a shutout top of the eighth, got a leadoff single from Lamb and a single from Kyle Bergeron that allowed him to hustle to third with one out.
UTSA then called for a suicide squeeze with a 1-1 count on Barry, a left-handed hitter, and Lamb at third with one out. Barry got the bunt down the third-base line and the flip to the plate was not in time to get Lamb, who slide feet first into the plate to walk-off with the win.
The Roadrunners take a 2-1 series lead with the Blue Raiders, after claiming the series opener in comeback fashion on Friday night 7-6. The teams squared off in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, with Middle Tennessee evening the series with a two-run frame in the eighth, after UTSA had rallied – down to its last strike – to force extra innings in the seventh.
UTSA collected 10 hits for the second straight game on Saturday, with Lamb and Barry each going 2-for-4. Nick Thornquist went 2-for-4 with UTSA also getting hits from Bergeron, Griffin Paxton and the first career hit from Ryan Hunt. Paxton stretched his hitting streak to 13 games with a key single in the seventh that allowed UTSA to tie the game.
UTSA starter Reece Easterling tossed 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs – one earned – not allowing a walk and striking out five. After a one-out error in the sixth, UTSA turned to senior Hunter Mason in relief. Mason (4-4) was brilliant, firing 2.2 shutout innings with just a single allowed, striking out two.
Middle Tennessee (16-13-1, 5-5-1 C-USA) starter Zach Keenan worked 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out two. With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Middle Tennessee turned to righty Austin Cheeley in relief. Cheeley escaped the jam without any damage and worked 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, striking out two. Josh Young (0-1) opened the eighth inning for the Blue Raiders, getting an out around three hits and the game-winning run.
The series will conclude on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Roadrunner Field.
The Blue Raiders struck first in the top of the third inning, getting a leadoff single from Nathan Sanders, who stole second and scored on a two-out single from Fausto Lopez.
Middle Tennessee took a two-run lead in the fifth inning, getting a leadoff single from Brett Coker, who scored on an error on a dropped-third strike.
UTSA rallied in the seventh, starting with a leadoff single from Hunt, the first of his career. Paxton then stretched his hit streak to 13 with a full-count single into centerfield and Dylan Rock forced home Hunt with an RBI groundout. Paxton then motored home on a two-strike, two-out wild pitch, allowing UTSA to tie the game and force extra innings.
GAME NOTES: Junior RHP Reece Easterling appeared in his fifth game of the year and made his fourth start … Junior LF Ryan Hunt made his first career start … Senior RHP Hunter Mason worked in his 10th game of the year and his 55thof his career … Jonathan Tapia was hit by his seventh pitch of the year and the 30th of his career … Hunt recorded his first career hit, a single through the left side to leadoff the seventh … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton has a team-leading 13-game hitting streak … This was UTSA's second straight extra-inning game and its fourth of the year.
- UTSA -
