SAN ANTONIO – Leyton Barry had three hits and Matt King drove in three to help lead UTSA to a 14-8 win over No. 7 Texas State, on Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (28-13) used a five-run first and an eight-run sixth to post the win over Texas State (32-10), snapping a nine-game winning streak for the Bobcats and extending UTSA's win streak in home games to nine games.
The win for the Roadrunners improved UTSA to 8-2 against ranked foes, including 5-0 at home with wins over No. 2 Stanford and three vs. No. 23 Charlotte. It marked a major win in UTSA's quest for potential NCAA Tournament at-large berth positioning, as the Roadrunners entered the matchup with a No. 58 NCAA RPI and Texas State owned a No. 47.
The Roadrunners took a 5-2 lead in a back-and-forth first inning before Texas State scored six over the second and third innings. After scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, UTSA exploded for eight runs in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh to help secure the win.
UTSA's monster week of opportunity will continue with three games at RPI No. 51 Middle Tennessee, starting Friday at 6 p.m. The Roadrunners currently sit in a tie for second place in Conference USA, with the Blue Raiders a game behind.
Barry led the Roadrunners with a 3-for-5, two-RBI game, with King driving in three runs with a 2-for-5 outing. UTSA also got two-hit games from Ian Bailey, Chase Keng and Isaiah Walker. Jonathan Tapia, Garrett Poston and Ryan Flores each had knocks and Sammy Diaz finished with a pair of RBI.
Beaird (2-1) earned the win with two shutout innings, allowing just three hits with two strikeouts, tossing a shutout fifth and sixth before UTSA's eight-run seventh.
The Roadrunners started sophomore Ryan Ward, who threw 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout off 26 pitches. Coming in to relieve Ward in the first, Braden Davis tossed 0.1 innings. The freshman allowed one run, no hits and walked one from five pitches. Ulises Quiroga was called from the bullpen in the second. The sophomore threw 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout from 27 throws.
Simon Miller came to the mound to relieve Quiroga in the third. The sophomore righty pitched 0.2 innings, allowing one run from one hit, walking two and one strikeout off 24 throws. Reece Easterling took the mound to relieve Miller in the fourth. The super senior pitched one inning, allowing only one hit off 11 throws. Taking the mound in the top of the fifth, Beaird allowed three runs with two strikeouts in two innings of work.
John Chomko took the mound for Beaird in the seventh and threw up a pair of monster innings. He allowed just one hit, one walk and three strikeouts from 32 pitches. Luke Malone closed the game for UTSA, working a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.
Texas State starter Trevis Sundgren pitched one inning. The Bobcat righty allowed five runs off six hits and one strikeout from 24 pitches. Jonathan Martinez was called from Texas State's bullpen in the second. Martinez allowed one hit and struck out one batter with 22 throws during his two innings on the mound. Austin Smith was brought in to relieve Martinez in the bottom of the fourth. Tossing two innings, Smith allowed one hit and recorded three strikeouts on 31 pitches.
From the Bobcat bullpen, Tony Robie came in to relieve Smith in the bottom of the sixth. Pitching 0.0 innings, the sophomore tossed 10 pitches, allowing two hits and walking one. Matthew Nicholas (1-1) was called from the pen in the bottom of the sixth. Nicholas allowed four runs off one hit with one walk and strikeout during 0.1 inning of work.
Triston Dixon was brought in for Nicholas in the sixth. Dixon worked 0.2 innings, allowing one run from one hit and one strikeout off 14 throws. Victor Loa was brought in from the bullpen to relieve Dixon in the seventh. Loa allowed one run off one hit and walked one batter from 15 tosses in 0.1 innings. Tristan Stivors – a front-runner for Sun Belt Conference Reliever of the Year – came in to close for the Bobcats. The senior tossed 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and three strikeouts from 27 pitches.
The Bobcats plated the first run of the game in the top of the first off an RBI double from Dalton Shuffield to score Ben McClain. With bases loaded, Daylon Pena reached first base on a fielder's choice and scored Shuffield.
UTSA took the lead in the bottom of the frame with five runs. With Tapia and Poston on base via singles, Bailey snuck one up the middle to score Tapia from second. With a two-strike count, Keng sent a single past the second baseman to score Poston to tie the game. A single to third base from Walker plated Bailey as the Roadrunners took the lead. Notching another run with a 1-1 count, Barry shot a two-RBI double deep to left field as Keng and Walker crossed home for a 5-2 lead.
Four runs from the Bobcats saw anther lead change. Two walks set the bases for McClain's home run in the top of the second. McLain's three-run homer was followed by a solo blast off a full count from Shuffield as Texas State regained the lead, 6-5.
Two runs in the top of the third extended Texas State's lead. With bases loaded and a 1-2 count, Shuffield reached on an error as Wesley Faison and August Ramirez were sent home as the Bobcats took a three-run lead, 8-5.
The Roadrunners took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after two scoreless innings. A single from Barry was sent past the second baseman. King reached on a single to advance Barry to third. Tapia was walked to load the bases for Bailey. With a full count, Bailey was walked to score Barry. Flores followed with a fielder's choice as Bailey reached third on an error by second base as Tapia and King scored to tie the game, 8-8. A sacrifice bunt from Diaz plated Bailey as the Roadrunners regained the lead. Keng then singled up the middle to score Flores for a two-run lead. Walker was walked to load the bases for King as the Roadrunners batted around the order with two out on the board. With a 1-0 count, King ripped a ball deep to center field for a three-run double to score Diaz, Keng and Walker as UTSA carved a five-run lead, 13-8.
UTSA added another run to its lead in the seventh. Bailey sent a single up the middle as Flores was walked. A passed ball advanced both runners to put UTSA in scoring position as Diaz stepped to the plate. A ground out to third base from Diaz plated Bailey for a 14-8 lead over the Bobcats to win the game.
Tuesday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
Texas State: Ben McClain (5), Dalton Shuffield (8)
WP – Ryan Beaird (2-1): 2 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Matthew Nicholas (1-1): 0.1 IP, 1 hits, 4 runs, 1 walks, 1 strikeout
Up Next
UTSA will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. this weekend to face off against Middle Tennessee in a weekend series. The first game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Friday and will be broadcast on CUSA TV.
- UTSA -
