SAN ANTONIO – UTSA exploded for 11 runs in the fifth inning to rally from behind to win its sixth consecutive game, posting a 14-4 run-rule win over Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (19-10) extended its winning streak to six games with a run-rule win in seven innings over SFA. After SFA opened the scoring with a four-run second inning, UTSA scored 14 unanswered, including two in the second, one in the third and 11 runs on nine hits in the fifth inning.
The Roadrunners went 5-0 last week – with four straight wins over top-25 foes – including a win at No. 11 TCU and a sweep of No. 23 Charlotte. It marks UTSA's longest winning streak since winning seven straight in 2018.
All nine UTSA hitters in the starting lineup collected hits, led by a three-double game from Garrett Poston, who drove in three runs. Kody Darcy also notched three RBI, with Jonathan Tapia, Chase Keng and Josh Killeen each adding two-hit games. Keng had a two-run triple in the fifth and Killeen had a double and two RBI. UTSA also got hits from Leyton Barry, Ian Bailey, Ryan Flores and Isaiah Walker. Ryan Flores had a hit and drew three walks.
The Roadrunners started Ryan Ward worked 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks, striking out one. With the bases juiced and one out in the second, UTSA called on Daniel Garza in relief. A native of Houston, Garza worked 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and one run, walking two and striking out three. Lefty Grant Miller opened the fourth, fanning two in a shutout inning before Reece Easterling (2-0) took over in the fifth. Easterling worked two shutout innings, before giving way to Drake Smith in the seventh inning with a 10-run lead.
SFA (8-20) starter Patrick Kudelka worked three innings, allowing two hits and two runs, walking four and striking out one. Peyton Parker (0-3) opened the fourth inning in relief, allowing seven runs in 1.1 innings. SFA also used Cully Mangus, Grant Walters and Sam Connevey also worked in relief.
The Lumberjacks opened the scoring in the top of the second, getting a single from Adrian Minjares and Jacob Evangelista. After a walk to Cal Campbell loaded the bases and ended Ward's outing, Kyle Cullen singled up the middle to score a pair. Cameron Crawford then forced home a run with a sacrifice bunt RBI. Dillon Eatman then drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a fourth run.
The Roadrunners answered in the bottom of the second, starting with a Flores leadoff walk. After a pair of outs, Killeen drew a walk to bring up Poston. Poston pounded a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap to score Flores and Killeen and cut the lead to 4-2.
UTSA narrowed the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, getting a leadoff double from Poston, painted inside the line in leftfield. After a productive out from Darcy, Tapia singled through the left side.
The Roadrunners rallied with 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting a leadoff walk from Flores, an infield single from Isaiah Walker and a single from Keng to load the bases. Killeen scored Flores with the game-tying single, one-hopping a line-drive single into the gap. Darcy followed and cleared the bases with a three-run double into the gap, scoring Walker, Keng and Killeen. Tapia followed with a double down the leftfield line, scoring Darcy and Bailey plated Tapia with a single into rightfield, making it 9-4. Flores and Walker drew walks to load the bases and after Bailey scored from third on a failed pickoff attempt at second, Keng tripled home a pair of runs into right-centerfield, making it 12-4. Killeen scored Keng with a double into right and Poston added his third double of the game with a two-bagger into right-centerfield, scoring Killeen for a 10-run lead and an 11-run inning.
Game Notes
- Ryan Ward made his first start of the year in his fifth appearance.
- Ward has appeared in 13 games with three starts in his career.
- Daniel Garza worked in his fifth game of the year and the 18th of his career.
- Garrett Poston doubled for the third, fourth and fifth times in 2022.
- Grant Miller worked in his 13th game of the year, a team-best and the 34th of his career.
- Reece Easterling appeared in his fifth game of the year and the 14th of his career.
- Easterling is 2-0 in 2022 and 3-0 in his career.
- Kody Darcy doubled for the second time on the year.
- Jonathan Tapia doubled for the 12th time on the year and the 29th time in his career.
- Ian Bailey stole his third base of the year and the sixth of his UTSA career.
- Chase Keng tripled for the second time on the year and the ninth time in his career.
- Josh Killeen doubled for the second time on the year and the fourth time in his career.
- Drake Smith worked in his fourth game of the year.
Wednesday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
Stephen F. Austin: N/A
WP – Reece Easterling (2-0): 2.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
SV – Drake Smith (1): 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
LP – Peyton Parker (0-3): 1.1 IP, 8 hits, 7 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
Up Next
UTSA will be back on the road this weekend as it begins an eight-game road streak. The Roadrunners will travel to Norfolk, Va. to face the No. 29 Old Dominion Monarchs. ODU is ranked in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, the oldest baseball poll in the country. All games will take place at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex and the games will be streamed on CUSA TV.
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