SAN ANTONIO – Shane Sirdashney's walk-off single in the ninth completed a dramatic comeback win for UTSA, as the Roadrunners rallied with two in the final frame to post a 5-4 series-clinching win over Marshall, on Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (32-16, 16-8 Conference USA) entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 4-3 with the Thundering Herd looking to spring the upset in the rubber match. The Roadrunners posted a 6-3 win in the series lid-lifter on Friday before falling 9-6 in the middle game on Saturday.
Leyton Barry drew a one-out walk and Austin Ochoa drilled a pinch-hit single to put a pair of runners on. After a walk to Jonathan Tapia, Josh Killeen hung a sacrifice fly into rightfield to plate Barry with the tying run and bring up Sirdashney.
It marked the sixth straight series win for the Roadrunners, who now enter the final stretch of the season – a road series at No. 7 Southern Miss and a three-game series vs. upstart UAB. The series at Southern Miss, starting on Friday in Hattiesburg, Miss., will help determine the regular-season conference champion in the league, with Southern Miss sporting a two-game lead over the Roadrunners in the conference.
UTSA's series at Southern Miss also will serve as crucial fodder for a potential NCAA Tournament at-large bid, as the Roadrunners own a No. 57 RPI after the win, will face RPI No. 16 Southern Miss on the road, before hosting RPI No. 86 UAB to conclude the regular season.
The Roadrunners improved to 19-5 at home, marking the ninth-most home wins in program history, while also winning their 32nd game, which is the eighth-best total in UTSA annals. UTSA's 16 league wins marks its most since winning 17 in 2015 and is the seventh-highest total in school history.
UTSA took a two-run lead in the bottom of the first with a home run from Ryan Flores. Marshall responded in the top of the following frame with three runs of their own off two multiple-run doubles. Marshall added an insurance run to their lead in the top of the fifth before an RBI single from Killeen scored Sammy Diaz.
Flores tallied two hits, launching his eighth career home run over the right field wall. Sirdahsney joined Flores in leading the Roadrunners at the plate, with two knocks, continuing his seven-game hitting streak and has now reached base safely in 24 consecutive games. Killeen, Diaz and Ochoa joined Flores and Sirdashney with knocks on the afternoon.
UTSA starter Drake Smith earned his third career start. The sophomore righty worked two innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Smith recorded five strikeouts in his 52 pitches, boosting his line to 22 strikeouts on the season in 12.1 innings on the year.
Fischer Kingsbery was called upon to start the third. Kingsbery tossed 1.2 innings with one hit and one strikeout before Ryan Beaird came in relief during the fourth. Beaird worked 1.1 innings, allowing one run from two hits and two strikeouts.
Simon Miller (3-3) was called from the bullpen in the sixth for the Roadrunners. The sophomore righty worked four innings, allowing no runs, only three hits and struck out one. He also earned the save in Friday's win and over his last six outings, the native of Canton, Texas, has gone 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 16.2 innings, allowing only nine hits – eight singles – with five walks and 20 strikeouts.
Marshall's Zac Addkison worked six innings, allowing three runs off five hits with four walks on 110 tosses. Cole Agemy came in to relieve Addkison in the bottom of the seventh. Agemy threw 10 pitches with two walks.
Louis Davenport was called in to relieve Agemy in the seventh to work two innings. Ryan Capuano (2-6) came in the bottom of the ninth to close for The Herd, suffering the loss after allowing the two decisive runs to score.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Sirdashney singled to the short stop to continue his reached base safely streak to 24 games. A 2-0 count for Flores resulted in a two-RBI home run over the right field wall to plate Sirdashney and create a 2-0 lead for UTSA.
The Herd claimed the lead in the top of the second with three runs. Two RBI doubles from Travis Sankovich and Luke Edwards edges UTSA out of the lead, 3-2.
Marshall added another run to the board in the fifth to carve a two-run advantage, 4-2. UTSA cut Marshall's lead to one run in the bottom of the frame. A single from Diaz through the left side was followed by a walk pulled from Barry and Tapia. A single from Killeen to third base advanced the runners and plated Diaz as UTSA trialed, 4-3.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Barry was walked and Ochoa singled up the middle. Tapia was intentionally walked to load the bases for Killeen. A sacrifice fly from Killeen plated Barry to tie the game, 4-4. Sirdashney was up next, sending a walk-off RBI single up the middle as Ochoa scored the final run for the series win, 5-4
Sunday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Ryan Flores (8)
Marshall: Kyle Shaefer (9)
WP – Simon Miller (3-3): 4 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
SV – N/A
LP – Ryan Capuano (5-4): 0.2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Up Next
UTSA will continue its conference slate against C-USA top ranked Southern Miss. The series will take place over the May 13-15 weekend as all games will be played in Hattiesburg, Miss. and each game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
GAME NOTES: UTSA is 32-16 and 16-8 in Conference USA … UTSA's 32 wins are tied for 10th most in single-season program history … The Roadrunners are 19-5 at home in 2022 and 35-16 under Coach Pat Hallmark … UTSA's 19 home wins are tied for 10th most in program history … UTSA's .818 winning percentage is currently the best in program history … UTSA is 24-8 in 2022 vs. right-handed starting pitchers … UTSA is 21-5 in 2022 when scoring first and 41-20 under Hallmark when scoring first … UTSA is 7-8 when hitting at least one homer … Senior 1B Ryan Flores has reached in 21 straight games … Flores launched his eighth home run of the season … Flores has batted in 40 runners this season … Sophomore RHP Drake Smith earned his third career start at UTSA … This is Smith's ninth career appearance … Smith tallied five Marshall strikeouts in his two innings of work … Senior CF Shane Sirdashney has reached base safely in 24 consecutive games, a team high … Sirdashney has a seven-game hitting streak … Sophomore DH Josh Killeen has a six-game hitting streak … Killeen has doubled six times in 2022 and eight times in his career … Killeen has four multi-RBI games on the year and five in his career … Killeen has nine career multi-hit games and six in 2022 … Sophomore RHP Fischer Kingsbery worked his 12th appearance for 2022 … Kingsbery tallied his 21st strikeout on the season … Junior C Sammy Diaz recorded his 43rd hit on the year … Senior 3B Jonathan Tapia played in his 202nd career game … Sophomore RHP Simon Miller worked in his 16th game of the year and the 26th of his career … Miller is 4-2 in his career.
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