SAN ANTONIO – UTSA dropped the first game of the Conference USA opening series against Louisiana Tech on Friday, 6-5.
Leyton Barry and Ryan Flores led the Roadrunners at the plate as both had three-hit games to lead the team. Shane Sirdashney had two RBI to lead the team as the junior outfielder continues his solid production at the plate on the year.
UTSA starter Luke Malone made his second consecutive start, as he also worked two innings on Tuesday in a win at Houston Baptist. Malone allowed eight hits and four runs – all unearned – over 4.2 innings, not issuing a walk and striking out three. After three unearned tallies came across in the fifth inning with two outs, UTSA turned to righty Simon Miller. Miller (1-1) worked 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and two runs, striking out seven. Daniel Shafer tossed the final 1.2 innings, fanning three.
Louisiana Tech starter Jonathan Fincher – the preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year who had won his first four starts of the year and sported a 1.96 ERA entering the game – was roughed up in two-plus innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, walking one over 36 pitches. After allowing a pair of leadoff hits to open the third, LA Tech turned to Anthony Gianette tossed two shutout innings, before giving way to Cade Gibson (2-1) who worked three shutout innings for the win. Kyle Crigger earned the second save of the year with the final two innings.
Louisiana Tech struck first in the top of the first inning, getting a leadoff single from Taylor Young, who moved to third on an infield hit and throwing error and scored after a Jorge Corona fielder's choice.
The Roadrunners answered in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff single from Jonathan Tapia, who was pushed to third on the sixth double of the year from Barry. Ian Bailey scored Tapia with a single to right-centerfield. Sirdashney followed with a two-run single chopped up the middle, playing Barry and Bailey. After an out, Matt King singled through the left side and Isaiah Walker pushed home Sirdashney with a run-scoring fielder's choice.
UTSA added a run in the third inning, getting a leadoff double from Flores and a single into the gap from Matt King. Walker then scored Flores after hitting into a double play, making it 5-1.
Louisiana Tech chased Malone in the top of the fifth, getting a two-out runner on via a Steele Netterville single. Corona hit into a fielding error to put runners on first and second for Phillip Matulia, who score one with a double down the rightfield line, scoring Netterville. Walker Burchfield then chased Malone with a two-run single into centerfield, cutting the lead to 5-4.
The Bulldogs evened the game in the sixth inning, getting a solo two-out homer from Taylor Young, sent out to right-centerfield.
Louisiana Tech took its first lead of the game in the eighth inning, starting after Bryce Wallace was hit by a one-out pitch. After a single, he came home to score on a wild pitch. The run on the wild pitch brought the score to 6-5, where it would stand as the final as Louisiana Tech took the first game of the weekend series.
Friday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
La Tech: Taylor Young (4)
WP – Cade Gibson (2-1): 3.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV – Kyle Crigger (2): 2.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
LP – Simon Miller (1-1): 2.2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts
Up Next
UTSA will return to Roadrunner Field tomorrow, March 19, to play Louisiana Tech in the second game of the three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
- UTSA -
