SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Baseball team will play host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a three-game home series this Friday through Sunday. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT, while Saturday's game is at 2 p.m. and Sunday's series finale starts at 1 p.m. All three games will be available to watch on CUSA.tv for free.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .455, notching a conference-best 25 hits and 23 RBI, along with 17 runs, three doubles, two triples and team-high four home runs. Shane Sirdashney has a conference-best 22 runs, while Caleb Hill leads in doubles (5) and Matt King leads in triples (4).
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the team with a 0.52 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Other key performers include Daniel Garza (1.84 ERA, 3-0 record), Luke Malone (.89 WHIP), Fischer Kingsbery (1.80 ERA) and Ulises Quiroga (2.81 ERA, 2-0 record).
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – ERA (2.52), hits (155), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.11), triples (12), triples per game (0.86), WHIP (1.15), win-loss percentage (.786) and walks allowed per nine innings (2.74). UTSA's 12 triples also leads the nation, tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Valdez is first in the conference and sixth in the nation with 25 hits, also holding a conference-best .455 batting average, 1.79 hits per game, 23 RBI, and 1.64 RBI per game. Sirdashney's 22 runs and 1.57 runs per game leads the league. King leads the C-USA with four triples and 0.29 triples per game.
Quiroga is tied with 13 players for the nation-best 0.00 strikeout to walk ratio and 0.00 walks allowed per nine innings. Miller has the best conference-best 0.52 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. Miller leads the conference and is tied for first in the nation with two other pitchers for most wins (4).
WELCOME TO SAN ANTONIO
Senior Antonio Valdez earned the Conference USA Hitter of the Week on March 6, his first honor since joining the Roadrunners this season.
The Baylor transfer has been unstoppable for the Roadrunners through the first three weeks of action. He leads the conference with 23 hits and 22 RBI through the first three weeks of action.
Valdez helped lead the Roadrunners to a 4-1 record last week, including two wins over Pac-12 opponent Utah and a win over Big 12 opponent Baylor. The senior has made an immediate impact since joining the Roadrunners this season, leading UTSA to a 10-3 record for first in the C-USA standings.
The Corpus Christi, Texas, native had a fantastic week at the plate last week, notching nine hits for a .429 batting average. He hit three home runs for an .857 slugging percentage. In UTSA's 2-1 win over crosstown rival UIW on Wednesday, Valdez scored the winning run as he stole home in the bottom of the eighth. The Roadrunners won the last two games of a three-game series against the Pac-12's Utah. In the 11-5 win on Saturday, Valdez launched his first home run of the season to tie the game up, kickstarting an offensive explosion that lifted UTSA over Utah. The Roadrunners secured the series win over Utah with a 14-3 win on Sunday as Valdez blasted two home runs in the game.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners dominated the Bobcats in a 11-2 win over Texas State on Tuesday in San Marcos, Texas. UTSA launched four home runs in an explosive offensive matchup. Simon Miller continues to dominate on the mound, earning his fourth win of the season. He struck out seven batters while allowing no runs on two hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Freshman Ruger Riojas fanned three batters in one inning pitched. Isaiah Walker led the Roadrunners as he went 3-for-5 with a run, three RBI, a triple and a home run.
The Roadrunners went 2-1 against Pac-12 opponent Utah last weekend. UTSA fell to Utah in the weekend series opener on March 4 by 5-3, before dominating the Utes in game two and three by scores of 11-5 and 14-3 to secure the series victory.
The Roadrunners showed off that they have power in their bats, as well as great base-running skills. Throughout the week, UTSA stole home twice and scored on wild pitches three times. On the other hand, the Roadrunners also recorded 18 extra-base hits – eight doubles, five triples and five home runs. UTSA had 55 hits and hit .484 over the week. Antonio Valdez went 9-for-21 with six runs, eight RBI, and three home runs for a .429 batting average. Caleb Hill had three doubles, a triple and a home run, while driving in seven. Matt King had a double and a triple with three runs and three RBI. Taylor Smith launched his first home run of the season.
On the mound, Simon Miller and Daniel Garza improved to a 3-0 with another win this past week. Miller struck out six batters in 5.0 innings pitched in two appearances. Garza allowed a run in four innings across an appearance. Drake Smith earned his first win in his first start of the season against Baylor on Feb. 28, allowing one run on three hits in three innings pitched. Daniel Shafer earned his first save of the season in the win against Baylor on Feb. 28. He went five innings and allowed one run on three hits in two appearances. Freshman Ruger Riojas had another outstanding outing as he allowed no runs on one hit while striking out six batters in three innings pitched.
MEDAL FOR MILLER
Junior Simon Miller earned the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors this week, his first weekly honor in his career as a Roadrunner.
Miller played a significant role in UTSA's 4-1 record last week, earning a win and a save for the Roadrunners. Coming in to pitch two innings of relief in UTSA's 12-2 seven-inning "mercy rule" win over Houston on Feb. 22, Miller allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out one batter. He earned the win in this game, his second of the season (2-0).
The Canton, Texas, native came in to pitch in the sixth inning of the first game of a Saturday doubleheader against Saint Mary's with UTSA leading by 10-8 and shut down the Gaels as he allowed no runs on zero hits with five strikeouts. The 11-8 win immediately gave the Roadrunners momentum in the series, winning their first game against the Gaels and eventually moving on to take three of four games for the series victory. He kept the opponents to a .105 batting average in his two outings this week.
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has started the season with a 7-6 record, after a 14-13 loss to Texas Southern on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Islanders swept Lindenwood in a four-game series last weekend. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was picked to finish seventh in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll. Tre Jones, Brendan Ryan and Zach Garcia were voted to the preseason first team, while Josh Caraway earned second team honors.
Christian Smith-Johnson leads the Islanders with a .385 batting average, paired with 15 hits, 10 runs, three doubles and three RBI. Ryan has a .358 batting average, along with a team-high 19 hits, 16 runs and 12 RBI. Colin Purcell leads Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a 3.60 ERA and .80 WHIP, striking out 16 batters in 20.0 innings pitched.
SERIES HISTORY VS TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
The Roadrunners have a 40-25 advantage in the all-time series over the Islanders. UTSA hosted Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 19-21, 2021 for a three-game series as the Roadrunners swept the Islanders.
FUEL TO THE FIVE
The Roadrunners were picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA, after a phenomenal season in 2022 in which UTSA broke multiple program records and advanced to the C-USA Championship game. Defending champion Louisiana Tech was voted to finish first. C-USA newcomer Dallas Baptist was picked to finish second, followed by Florida Atlantic at third and Charlotte at fourth.
DON'T STOP THEM NOW
Daniel Shafer and Simon Miller were both named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. 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. 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.
PRESEASON 'RUNNERS
A conference-best four Roadrunners earned preseason honors, tied with Charlotte as the only two teams with four preseason honorees. The four honorees are Leyton Barry, Luke Malone, Daniel Shafer and Simon Miller.
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 owned the second-best opponent batting average (.240).
ON DECK
The Roadrunners head to Nacogdoches, Texas, to face Stephen F. Austin on March 14. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
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