Paxton, Rock spur comeback win to even series vs. No. 19 ODUPaxton, Rock spur comeback win to even series vs. No. 19 ODU
Jeff Huehn/UTSA Athletics
Baseball

Paxton, Rock spur comeback win to even series vs. No. 19 ODU

SAN ANTONIO – Griffin Paxton and Dylan Rock each belted home runs to help fuel a 12-10 comeback win over No. 19 Old Dominion, in the opener of a pair of seven-inning games, on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. 
 
UTSA (20-20, 12-13 Conference USA) answered a three-run top of the first inning from the Monarchs with a nine-run bottom of the frame, including homers from Paxton and Rock. The Monarchs then started chipping away, scoring a run in the second, four in the third and took the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth from Kyle Battle. 
 
The Roadrunners rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating three runs to erase a one-run hole and take a 12-10 lead.
 
UTSA collected 12 runs on 14 hits, drawing four walks and getting plunked by four pitches. Paxton was 2-for-5 with five RBI and his sixth homer of the year, while Rock went 3-for-4 with two runs and his eighth blast of 2021. 

 
The Roadrunners also got a three-run triple from Leyton Barry and two-hit games from Joshua Lamb and Shea Gutierrez. Lamb extended his hitting streak to 13 games. 
 
UTSA also got hits from Nick Thornquist, Chase Keng, Jonathan Tapia and Josh Killeen. 
 
UTSA starter Simon Miller worked two-plus innings, allowing five hits and five runs, walking two and striking out one. After a leadoff homer and walk to open the third, the Roadrunners called on righty Luke Malone out of the bullpen. 
 
A native of Round Rock, Texas, Malone worked 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, walking one and striking out four. After allowing a leadoff single and two-run homer to open the sixth, UTSA called on lefty Grant Miller, who allowed a double to the lone hitter he faced. Senior Arturo Guajardo (3-1) came on with one out and a runner on second in the sixth, working the final 1.2 innings to earn the win, allowing a single and walk. 
 
Andy Garriola cranked a pair of homers and drove in five runs to lead the Monarchs, who had five total home runs in the game. 
 
Old Dominion (32-12, 18-8 C-USA) starter Nick Pantos got two outs in the first inning, allowing nine runs on eight hits, issuing a walk and striking out one. He was replaced in the first inning by Trey Fisher, who got five outs before giving way to Brett Smith in the third. Smith worked 1.2 innings without allowing a run before Tom Scheffler opened the fifth inning, working one inning with two hits and two strikeouts. Joey Rodriguez (1-2) opened the sixth with a one-run lead, allowing two r uns over an out. ODU also used Brad Dobzanski in relief. 
 

The series resumes with the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday. 
 
In the top of the first, Andy Garriola belted his 10th homer of the year, a three-run homer out to left-centerfield. 
 
The Roadrunners answered in the bottom of the first inning, plating nine runs on eight hits to take a 9-3 lead. Rock reached on a one-out double, Thornquist drew a walk and Keng loaded the bases with a shallow single into leftfield. Lamb scored Rock with a single into short centerfield and Gutierrez singled to centerfield to score Thornquist. Barry then ripped a three-run triple into the gap, scoring Keng, Lamb and Gutierrez. Tapia reached on a fielder's choice, with Barry out at the plate, and Killeen followed with a single to rightfield to put runners on the corners and two outs. Paxton then belted his sixth homer of the year, a three-run jack out to leftfield. Rock followed with his eighth homer of the year, a laser out to centerfield for a 9-3 lead. 
 
ODU got a leadoff triple from Thomas Wheeler to open the second, scoring on Tommy Bell's RBI single. 
 
Kenny Levari led off the third inning with a solo homer, his fourth of the year. Garriola then hit his second homer in the first three innings, a two-run homer to cut the lead to 9-7. Brock Gagliardi followed with his seventh homer of the year, cutting the lead to 9-8. 
 
ODU took the lead with a two-run, one-out homer in the sixth inning from Battle, his 15th of his year. 
 
UTSA rallied, down to its last five outs, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Barry was hit by a one-out pitch and motored to third on a single through the right side from Tapia. The throw to third to attempt to get Barry sailed wide, allowing Barry to score the game-tying run and Tapia to fly to third base with one out. Killeen drew a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Paxton then gave UTSA the lead with a two-run single through the left side against a drawn-in infield, giving UTSA a 12-10 lead. 
 
GAME NOTES: Freshman RHP Simon Miller appeared in his ninth game and made his sixth start … Redshirt sophomore RHP Luke Malone worked in his 14th game of 2021 and the 18th in his career … Junior LHP Grant Millerpitched in his 14th game of the year … Senior RHP Arturo Guajardo worked in his 11th game of the year … Junior CF Dylan Rock has reached base safely in 18 straight games … Rock has reached base safely in 36 of 39 games in 2021 … Rock has reached base safely in 147 of 161 career starts … Rock doubled for the 10th time in 2021 and the 43rd time in his career … Rock has eight homers in 2021 and 18 in his career … Rock's homer marked his 200th career hit … Rock was hit by his seventh pitch of the year and the 27th of his career … Senior C Nick Thornquist has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games … Thornquist has reached base safely in 38 of 40 starts in 2021 … Thornquist has reached base safely in 81 of 94 career starts … Junior SS Joshua Lamb has a 13-game hitting streak … Lamb has reached base safely in 37 of 40 games in 2021 … Lamb has reached base safely in 93 of 114 career starts … Lamb was hit by his seventh pitch of the year and the 10th of his career … Sophomore LF Leyton Barry tripled for the first time in 2021 and the third time in his career … Barry was hit by his third career pitch … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton has reached base safely in 36 of his 39 starts in 2021 … Paxton has reached base safely in 99 of 109 career starts … Paxton belted his sixth homer of the year … Junior LF Jonathan Tapia has reached base safely in 30 of 36 starts in 2021 … Tapia has made starts at second (18), third (14), shortstop (one), leftfield (two) and rightfield (one) in 2021 … Tapia has reached base safely in 93 of 114 career starts … Tapia was hit by his 10th pitch of 2021 and the 33rd of his career.
 
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