SAN ANTONIO – Six home runs helped UTRGV snap UTSA's nine-game home winning streak at Roadrunner Field on Tuesday night. The Vaqueros' pitching staff held the Roadrunners to one run in a 12-1 victory.
The Roadrunners (30-15) now have an 8-3 midweek record, with a 5-2 midweek mark in the last seven games with wins recorded over No. 11 TCU and No. 7 Texas State. UTRGV (27-18) is now on a four-game win streak.
Jonathan Tapia was responsible for the single UTSA run. With Josh Killeen and Isaiah Walker on base, Tapia sent a double down the right field line to score Killeen.
Tapia joined Ryan Flores, Sammy Diaz and Killeen as the only Roadrunners to record a hit against the Vaqueros as they were limited to four on the night.
UTSA started freshman right-hander Ryan Beaird. Beaird worked one inning, allowing one run off two hits with three strikeouts. Ulises Quiroga was called in to relieve Beaird in the second. Quiroga tossed one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run from one hit.
Fischer Kingsbery was called from the bullpen in the third. He tossed 2.1 innings, allowing two runs off of one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Braylon Owens then entered for Kingsbery in the sixth to work an inning and two-thirds. Owens allowed three runs off three hits with one walk.
John Chomko came to the mound in the seventh and worked 1.1 innings with one strikeout on 17 pitches. Easterling came to the mound to close out the game, working the final inning and allowing five runs off three hits, one walk and one strikeout.
UTRGV starter J.C. Ariza worked six innings, allowing only two hits with no runs, one walk and struck out five off 75 throws.
Diego Escobedo came in to relieve Ariza in the bottom of the seventh. Escobedo tossed one inning with two strikeouts on nine throws. Zach Tjelmeland was called from the pen in the eighth to work one inning and allowed one run off one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Max Balderrama entered to close for UTRGV. Balderrama tossed one inning, allowing one hit, one walk and one strikeout on 20 throws.
UTRGV jumped ahead early in the top of the first. With two outs and a 1-1 count with bases loaded, Freddy Rojas Jr. singled to left field to score Brandon Pimentel for a 1-0 lead.
The Vaqueros added another run to their lead in the third. A home run from Pimentel over the right field wall gave UTRGV a two-run lead.
A two-run homer in the fifth from Bryan Sturges boosted UTRGV's lead to 4-0.
A third Vaquero home run came in the top of the sixth from the bat of Chris Mondesi as UTRGV continued to lead 5-0.
With one runner on in the top of the seventh, a double to left field from Sturges scored Cain. Rojas Jr. was up next and singled to right field to send Sturges home as the Vaqueros continued to lead 7-0.
The Roadrunners got on the board in the bottom of the eighth. With two runners on and one ball, Tapia sent a double down the left field line to score Killeen as UTSA trailed 8-1.
A three-home run final inning from Jacob Sanchez, Sturges and Isaac Lopez fueled a12-1 win for the Vaqueros.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
UTRGV: Brandon Pimentel (11), Bryan Sturges 2 (6), Chris Mondesi (2), Jacob Sanchez (5), Isaac Lopez (2)
WP – JC Ariza (2-1): 6 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Ryan Beaird (2-3): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 strikeout
Up Next
UTSA will continue its homestand this weekend as it plays host to fellow Conference USA school Marshall. The series will take place over the May 6-8 weekend as all games will be played at Roadrunner Field and each game will be broadcast on CUSA TV.
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