SAN ANTONIO – UTSA (18-10, 5-4 Conference USA) got three-hit games from both Leyton Barry and Matt King as well as a three-RBI game from Chase Keng on Sunday which powered the offense to an 8-5 win over Charlotte.
After securing the series victory on Saturday, UTSA wrapped up the series sweep on Sunday as they disposed of the 49ers in seven innings due to a travel constraint on Charlotte's end.
The win over Charlotte was UTSA's fifth in a row and fourth straight win over a ranked opponent. The Roadrunners now own wins over No. 2 Stanford, No. 11 TCU and No. 23 Charlotte (3x) as UTSA is 5-0 when facing ranked opponents.
The Roadrunners started freshman righty Braden Davis who worked 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with no walks and two punchouts. Senior southpaw Grant Miller relieved Davis in the fifth, retiring both batters he faced and picking up the win to move to 1-0. Entering to face a righty in the fifth with two outs was freshman Braylon Owens. After getting out of the fifth, Owens pitched another 1.2 innings (2.0 total) and allowed four hits, two runs and two strikeouts. Entering in the top of the seventh in what proved to be a save opportunity was Daniel Shafer. Shafer needed just one out with two inherited runners. He walked the first to load the bases but the second batter grounded out to end the game and give Shafer his fourth save on the season.
Charlotte (17-10, 4-5 C-USA) starter Matt Brooks (1-1) lasted 1-1 innings on Sunday, as he gave up four early hits and three runs with a walk and a strikeout. Entering in replacement of Brooks was Michael Oh. Oh covered 2.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three for the 49ers. Oh was later replaced by AJ Wilson out of the pen. Wilson went for an inning, allowing two runs on a hit with one strikeout. Hale Sims entered in the bottom of the fifth to try and get the final out. Instead, he allowed two runs on three hits which allowed UTSA to expand its lead. Sims was pulled following the fifth as Tony Rossi pitched the sixth. Rossi allowed just one hit and struck out two in his time on the mound.
UTSA got on the board early in the bottom of the first frame. The Roadrunners got back-to-back singles from Leyton Barry and Shane Sidashney to put two on. With two outs and two on, Ian Bailey drew a walk to load the bases for Chase Keng. Keng ripped a double to left-center to plate both Sirdashney and Bailey. UTSA would lead 2-0 after one.
The Roadrunners tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning. Matt King got the inning started with a single to center. Josh Killeen followed up with a single to center of his own to put two on for UTSA. King advanced to third on a Tapia fly out to centerfield. With a runner on third and two outs, Leyton Barry cranked an RBI-double down the rightfield line to plate King and put UTSA up 3-0.
Charlotte began to find success off of Davis in the top of the fourth. The inning began with Josh Madole being hit by a pitch. The next two 49er batters were retired before Cam Fisher came to the plate. Fisher hit his eighth home run of the year to left field to make it a 3-2 UTSA game.
The Roadrunners were able to push their lead back to two in the bottom of the frame though. King started the inning with a double which was followed by Garrett Poston being hit by a pitch. The two advanced bases thanks to a Josh Killen groundout. With two on and one out, Jonathan Tapia hit a sacrifice fly to center field which would score King and make it a 4-2 UTSA lead.
The 49ers gained a run back in the fifth, as the leadoff man, Will Butcher, smashed a homer down the left line to end the day for Braden Davis and pull Charlotte back within one, 4-3.
UTSA began the bottom of the fifth inning with Isaiah Walker earning a free pass. Walker then advanced to second on a failed 49er pickoff. The next two batters would be retired, but Chase Keng singled to the pitcher who dropped the ball on the tagout which allowed Keng to be safe and for Walker to score. Next up, King singled to right to advance Keng to third base. A Garrett Poston first-swing single to center would plate Keng and make it a 6-3 UTSA lead.
Charlotte found some momentum in the top of the sixth, as the leadoff batter Josh Madole hit a triple to right field. Madole was then able to score off of a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Cam Fished stepped back up to the plate and smacked his ninth home run on the season and second of the game over the rightfield fence to bring Charlotte back within one, 6-5.
The Roadrunners would find some insurance in the bottom of the frame as they got their first two runners on thanks to a Charlotte error (allowing Tapia to reach) and a Leyton Barry single which moved Tapia to third. With a runner on third, Charlotte's pitcher threw a ball high which bounced off the catcher's mitt and the umpire's mask which allowed Tapia to score and Barry to move to third. Ryan Flores would later single down the left line to score Barry and put the game out of reach as UTSA would go on to win, 8-5.
Sunday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
Charlotte: Cam Fisher 2(9), Will Butcher (4)
WP – Grant Miller (1-0): 0.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
SV – Daniel Shafer (4): 0.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
LP – Matt Brooks (1-1): 1.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Up Next
UTSA will play again this Wednesday, April 6 when they host Stephen F. Austin. It will be the last action of the four-game homestand. First pitch against SFA is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on CUSA TV.
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