SAN ANTONIO -- Chase Keng cranked his sixth home run of the year and Jonathan Tapia went 4-for-4 to highlight an 18-hit attack that fueled a 12-4 win for UTSA baseball in the series finale vs. Rice, on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (17-17, 9-10 Conference USA) rallied past Rice in the series finale, using a six-run fifth to erase an early one-run hole, as the two teams split the four game series over the weekend. After Rice got three runs back in the top of the eighth, UTSA scored five in the bottom of the frame.
The Roadrunners collected 16 hits in the wis, getting a 4-for-4 game from Tapia and a 2-for-5 outing from Keng, including a three-run homer in the fifth. Griffin Paxton went 4-for-6 with four RBI and a pair of doubles, with Ian Bailey also chipping in a three-hit game with two RBI.
UTSA also got hits from Nick Thornquist, Joshua Lamb and Chris Shull.
UTSA starter Simon Miller (3-1) worked five strong innings in his first outing since April 2. Miller allowed just three hits and one run, walking three and striking out three. He surrendered a leadoff double that came around to score on a one-out single in the fourth but settled in to work five innings and stake UTSA to a 6-1 lead.
Arturo Guajardo opened the sixth in relief of Miller, working 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs and one walk, striking out five. After a pair of one-out singles in the eighth, freshman Daniel Garza entered from the bullpen. Garza worked two outs in the eighth, allowing a homer, before giving way to Luke Malone, who got the final three outs.
Rice (17-23-1, 5-14-1 C-USA) starter Roel Garcia (1-3) worked four-plus innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, not issuing a walk or striking anyone out. Blake Brogdon came on with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and worked 3.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs. Dalton Wood also worked in relief.
The Roadrunners will return to action with a four-game series at UAB in Birmingham, Ala., starting on Friday.
The Owls struck first in the top of the fourth inning, getting a leadoff double from Braden Comeaux. After a productive groundout pushed Comeaux to third with one out, Austin Bulman singled down the rightfield line to give Rice a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Ian Bailey reached on throwing error by Rice shortstop Hal Hughes to open the inning. Tapia followed with his second hit of the day, a single pulled through the left side, and Shull loaded the bases with a beautifully placed bunt single down the third-base line. After a pitching change, Paxton pounded a double off the wall in left-centerfield, scoring Bailey and Tapia for a one-run lead. Shull then scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 lead, pushing both Paxton and Rock into scoring position. Keng then belted a three-run homer, a no-doubt blast out to left-centerfield, stretching the lead to 6-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, UTSA got a one-out runner on via a smash from Shull down the leftfield line that went under the glove and legs of Rice's third baseman Braden Comeaux. Paxton then reached on an infield single on the right side and Rock scored Shull with a single up the middle.
The Owls cut into the lead in the top of the eighth, getting singles from Comeaux and Bradley Gneiting and a three-run homer from Bulman.
Rock led off the bottom of the eighth with an infield single and motored home to score on Thornquist's RBI double into the left-centerfield gap. After a Leyton Barry walk, Bailey pounded a two-run double into the gap, scoring Barry and Thornquist. Paxton scored a pair with a two-out, two-run single to right for a 12-4 lead.
GAME NOTES: Freshman RHP Simon Miller worked in his seventh career game and made his fourth start … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton doubled for the ninth and 10th time in 2021 and has 24 in his career … Junior RF Chase Keng homered for the sixth time in 2021 and the ninth time in his career … Senior RHP Arturo Guajardo worked in his ninth game of the year … Junior SS Joshua Lamb has a team-leading seven-game hitting streak … Junior CF Dylan Rock has reached base safely in 12 straight games … Freshman RHP Daniel Garza worked in his ninth game of the year … Senior C Nick Thornquist doubled for the seventh time in 2021 and the 28th time in his career … Senior 2B/3B Jonathan Tapia was hit by his eighth pitch of the year and the 31st of his career … R-Sophomore RHP Luke Malone worked in his 12th game of the year and the 16th of his career.
- UTSA -
