SAN ANTONIO – UTSA (17-10, 4-4 Conference USA) trailed 7-0 entering the bottom of the seventh. The Roadrunners would then score eight unanswered, one in the seventh and seven in the eighth, to take game two and secure a series victory over Charlotte, 8-7.
The win over Charlotte was UTSA's fourth in a row and third straight win over a ranked opponent. The Roadrunners now own wins over No. 2 Stanford, No. 11 TCU and No. 23 Charlotte (2x) as UTSA is 4-0 when facing ranked opponents.
Saturday's game featured 14 pitchers between the two teams and 24 combined walks.
The Roadrunners started freshman righty Ryan Beaird who worked 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on no hits and five walks, striking out one. Jacob Jimenez walked the two hitters he faced in the third, forcing in the two runs tagged to Beaird, before giving way to Daniel Garza. Garza worked 2.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Grant Miller opened the sixth, getting two outs before Simon Miller relieved him, issuing three walks before Ulises Quiroga entered in relief. Quiroga walked the two batters he faced and John Chomko entered in lieu of Quiroga. Chomko was able to end the inning for UTSA, but not before Charlotte put four more on the board. Entering in the ninth in a save scenario, Daniel Shafer got the three outs, with one walk, to secure the UTSA victory.
Charlotte (17-9, 4-4 C-USA) starter Will Lancaster had a nice showing on the day. The southpaw tossed six innings and only allowed three hits and issued two walks while striking out ten. Colby Bruce started the seventh inning for the 49ers, only to walk one, allow a hit and allow a run. He was replaced by AJ Wilson finished the seventh but allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Entering for Wilson was Quinton Martinez. Martinez issued two walks and a hit, allowing four runs. Cameron Hansen relieved Martinez with the score tied at seven in the bottom of the eighth. Needing only one out, Hansen allowed two straight hits and a run which put UTSA on top and ultimately gave the Roadrunners the win. Collin Kramer, an Iowa native, entered in the eighth to record the final out.
Charlotte struck first in the top of the third inning, getting walks from Kaden Hopson, David McCabe and Cam Fisher to load the bases with two outs. Austin Knight then worked a five-pitch walk to force home Hopson for the first tally of the game. Josh Madole then worked a five-pitch walk to score the second run of the game.
The 49ers added on in the fourth, getting a leadoff single from Will Butcher, who took second and third on wild pitches, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Nate Furman.
The 49ers stretched their lead in the sixth, getting five straight walks, including an RBI bases-loaded free pass to Knight and Madole. After the dust settled in the sixth, Charlotte found itself with a 7-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Once Charlotte's starting pitcher Will Lancaster exited the game after six, UTSA began to find success at the plate. The Roadrunners finally got on the board in the seventh. The inning began with an Ian Bailey walk which was followed up by walks drawn by Matt King and Chase Keng to load the bases. With the bases juiced and no outs, Jonathan Tapia stepped up to the plate and grounded into a double play, however, Bailey would score to make it a 7-1 Charlotte lead.
The Roadrunners did their damage in the bottom of the eighth, scoring seven runs to take the lead. The inning began with a Shane Sirdashney walk, followed by Ryan Flores getting hit by a pitch. Josh Killeen singled up the middle to bring home Sirdashney and cut Charlotte's lead to five. Following Killeen's lead, Leyton Barry drew a walk to load the bases. Then, with one out, Matt King as hit by a pitch which brought a run across to make it a 7-3 ballgame. Following Matt King was Chase Keng who lined out to left, but scored a run to make it a 7-4 ballgame. The next batter, Jonathan Tapia, walked and the bases were loaded again. Pinch-hitting, Isaiah Walker hit a single to score one. With the bases loaded again, Sirdashney was back up and singled up the middle, plating two and tying the game at seven all. With Walker on second and Sirdashney on first, Ryan Flores singled to bring home what would be the game-winning run in Walker as UTSA shut out the 49ers in the top of the ninth to come away with the win. UTSA scored eight unanswered runs to win.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
Charlotte: N/A
WP – John Chomko (2-0): 2.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – Daniel Shafer (3): 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
LP – Cameron Hansen (2-2): 0.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Up Next
UTSA will be back in action tomorrow as the Roadrunners meet No. 23 Charlotte in the series finale as UTSA goes for the three-game sweep. Tomorrow's game against the 49ers will begin at 12 p.m. and will be streamed on CUSA TV.
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