SAN ANTONIO – Four Roadrunners were named to the Conference USA Preseason Team – Leyton Barry, Luke Malone, Daniel Shafer, and Simon Miller – while UTSA was picked to finish fifth, announced the conference office on Thursday afternoon.
UTSA is one of only two schools to have four all-conference selections on the preseason team this year. Charlotte is the only other school with four student-athletes on the team.
Leyton Barry led the Roadrunners with an impressive .343 batting average in 2022, his second straight season leading UTSA in batting average. The Houston, Texas, made 53 starts in 56 games played, playing at second base and shortstop. He totaled 49 runs and 38 RBI with 79 hits. Barry was the difference maker in UTSA's upset over No. 2 Stanford as he cranked out the walk-off hit to win the game. He notched 24 multi-hit games, including 12 games in which he had at least three hits.
Luke Malone was voted to the All-Tournament Team and All-Conference First Team last season after a breakout season as UTSA's Friday night ace. With an ERA of 2.61 and nine wins last season, Malone led the C-USA in 2022 amongst returning players. His nine wins was also the second-most in a single season in UTSA program history. Established himself as the Roadrunners' Friday night starter, earning 11 starts in 19 appearances while collecting a 9-3 record and two saves. The Round Rock, Texas, native led the team with 87.2 innings pitched, allowing only 35 runs on 81 hits throughout the 2022 campaign. Amongst returning players in the C-USA, Malone owns the second-best opponent batting average (.240).
Daniel Shafer was UTSA's main closer/high-leverage reliever in 2022. The Willis, Texas, native went 3-1 in 16 appearances for the Roadrunners, before a season-ending injury in April. Shafer earned the C-USA Pitcher of the Week once last year after holding a powerful No. 2 Stanford to no runs and no hits in the 9th and 10th innings, allowing UTSA to take a 6-5 walk-off win over one of the best teams in the nation. In 27.1 innings pitched, he struck out 38 batters while walking just 13. Of C-USA returners, Shafer had the third-most saves (5) in the conference last season.
Simon Miller posted a 4-3 record (second-most wins on the team) through 18 appearances in relief. In 36.0 innings, he allowed just 18 runs on 24 hits, while striking out 47 batters in that span. The Canton, Texas, native became the Roadrunners' go-to closer/high-leverage pitcher in the second half of the season when injuries affected the bullpen. Miller helped UTSA to an 8-3 record in his final 11 appearances.
After a historic season in which UTSA advanced to the Conference USA Championship game, the Roadrunners were picked to finish fifth in the conference. The defending champion Louisiana Tech was picked first with five first-place votes. C-USA newcomer Dallas Baptist was picked to finish second with four first-place votes, followed by Florida Atlantic at third and Charlotte at fourth with one first-place vote. Following UTSA in the fifth-10th spots are Middle Tennessee, UAB, Rice, FIU and WKU, respectively.
The Roadrunners open up their season at home, hosting Tarleton State on Feb. 17-19.
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