BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Shea Gutierrez drove in a career-high five and cranked his first career home run, leading UTSA baseball to a 14-3 win at UAB in the nightcap of a pair of seven-inning games, on Saturday and Young Memorial Field.
UTSA (18-19, 10-12 Conference USA) rode a seven-run fifth inning that saw Gutierrez and Nick Thornquist go back-to-back, with Thornquist's blast – his eighth of the year – good for a grand slam. The Roadrunners used a pair of big innings, a five-run second and a seven-run fifth to secure the win, allowing a run in the second and two in the third.
At the plate, UTSA collected 13 hits and four walks, stealing three bases and plating 12 total runs. Gutierrez went 3-for-4 with five RBI and a walk, with Thornquist going 1-for-4 with his grand slam in the fifth.
UTSA also got two-hit games from Dylan Rock, Leyton Barry and Chase Keng. Joshua Lamb went 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to a club-high 10 games and Ian Bailey had a 3-for-4 game with a walk.
The Roadrunners started redshirt sophomore righty Luke Malone worked two-plus innings, allowing six hits and three runs, walking two and striking out one. Arturo Guajardo (2-1) came on in relief in a jam in the third, getting three outs and allowing just one inherited runner to score.
A native of Laredo, Texas, Guajardo turned in the best outing of his career, earning his second win with a career-long five innings, allowing no hits, one walk and striking out three.
UAB (15-29, 8-15 C-USA) starter Jordan Bonk allowed five runs in 1.2 innings, walking two and striking out one. Evan Ingram was first out of the bullpen, working 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and one run, walking one and striking out one. Collin Taylor, Nick Wright, Matthew Reed and Jonas Smith also worked in relief.
The series will conclude on Sunday at 12 p.m. on CUSA TV.
The Roadrunners opened the scoring in the second inning, plating five runs for an early lead. Keng and Bailey led off with singles. After a pair of outs, Rock smashed a two-run double to leftfield to score the pair. Thornquist followed by reaching on an error and Leyton Barry drew a walk to load the bases for Gutierrez. Gutierrez smacked a three-run double down the leftfield line, taking the lead to 5-0.
UAB answered in the bottom of the second inning, getting a one-out RBI single from J. Paul Fullerton, scoring Zack Davis, who doubled to open the inning.
UAB plated a run in the third, getting a sacrifice fly from Ian Ladner, scoring Chandler Simpson, who led off the inning with a bunt single.
Lamb led off the top of the fifth inning with a double into the gap, scoring after Keng ripped a double into the left-centerfield gap. After Austin Ochoa reached and Rock drew a walk to load the bases, Thornquist pounded a grand slam out to leftfield, his eighth homer of the year. Barry followed with a double through the right side and Gutierrez scored him with a two-run homer, the first of his career.
UTSA loaded the bases in the seventh, getting a hit by pitch from Keng to force home Thornquist. Bailey then scored Gutierrez with a single through the left side.
GAME NOTES: Redshirt sophomore RHP Luke Malone made his 13th appearance and his sixth start of the year … Malone has worked in 17 games with seven starts in his career … Junior CF Dylan Rock doubled for the eighth time in 2021 and the 41st time in his career … Rock has reached base safely in 15 straight games … Junior 2B Shea Gutierrez ripped his third double … Senior C Nick Thornquist stole his fourth base of the year and the sixth of his career … Thornquist has reached base safely in 15 straight games … Senior RHP Arturo Guajardo worked in his 10th game … Rock stole his eighth base of 2021 and the 26th of his career … Junior SS Joshua Lamb doubled for the 11th time in 2021 and the 18th time in his career … Lamb has a 10-game hitting streak … Junior RF Chase Keng doubled for the third time in 2021 and the 12th time in his career … Thornquist hit his eighth homer of the year and the 15th of his career … Sophomore LF Leyton Barry doubled for the third time in 2021 and the fourth time in his career … Gutierrez ripped his first collegiate home run … The grand slam was UTSA's second of the year and the first since Lamb in the series opener at Rice … Thornquist's eight homers in 2021 is a career high … Keng was hit by his second pitch of 2021 and the fifth of his career … Senior DH Ian Bailey tied his career high with three hits, done in consecutive games.
- UTSA -
