STEPHENVILLE, Texas -- Tarleton State used an eight-run first inning to build an early lead and post a series-salvaging 12-1 seven-inning win over UTSA baseball, on Sunday at the TSU Baseball Complex.
UTSA (2-1) saw Tarleton State (1-2) avoid the season-opening sweep with the Sunday win, salvaging the series which had been dominated by the potent bats of the Roadrunners in the first two games of the 2022 season. UTSA posted a 21-5 win on Friday night in the season lid-lifter before earning a 12-8 win in the middle game to clinch the series.
The Texans scored the first 10 runs of the game, including an eight-run first inning and single tallies in the second and third innings. UTSA got on the board in the fifth inning, with the Texans clinching the run-rule win with single tallies in the fifth and sixth.
UTSA was led by a two-hit game from Jonathan Tapia, who also drew a walk and finished 5-for-13 with six runs scored in the three-game weekend. UTSA also got hits from Ian Bailey, Sammy Diaz and Matt King.
Freshman Braylon Owens (0-1) made his collegiate debut in the start, allowing seven runs – five earned – on five hits and a walk, recording an out. Freshman Braden Davis worked 3.1 innings in his collegiate debut, allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits and three walks, striking out three. Freshman Ryan Beaird worked 1.1 innings with three strikeouts and Ryan Ward worked one frame with a run allowed.
The Roadrunners outscored TSU 34-25 in the three-game series and hit .321/.445/.505 over the three games with four homers and eight doubles. Bailey paced the offense with six hits in 12 at-bats, owning two doubles, a homer and five RBI. Chase Keng slugged a homer and drove in five, hitting .417. Leyton Barry and Kody Darcy each added four hits, with Darcy slugging a homer. Ryan Flores also belted a homer and drove in four.
UTSA will return to action on Wednesday with its first midweek game of the 2022 season, traveling to face No. 13 TCU (2-1) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Tarleton State starter Aiden Adams (1-0), a freshman lefty, worked four shutout innings, walking three and striking out two. Sophomore 6-foot-7 righty Zane Badmaev worked two innings, allowing three hits and one run, walking one.
The Texans scored eight runs on six hits and two UTSA errors in the bottom of the first inning.
TSU added a single run in the second and third innings for a 10-0 lead.
Tapia spanked a double to lead off the fifth inning, moving to third on Bailey's single and scoring after Darcy hit into a double play.
TSU answered with a single tally in the bottom of the fifth and added a run in the sixth to secure the run-rule victory.
- UTSA -
