SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Baseball team is set to host the WKU Hilltoppers in a three-game conference series this weekend. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will be available to watch on CUSA.tv with a subscription.
QUICK HITS
This will be the Roadrunners' first meeting with the Hilltoppers since the 2021 season, when they played each other in a Conference USA Championship elimination game. The last regular season series UTSA and Western Kentucky played was on April 26-28, 2019.
The Roadrunners took sole possession of first place in the Conference USA standings, taking two games in a three-game series against Rice March 24-26. Tied for first place coming into last weekend's series, UTSA and Rice battled for that top spot and UTSA came out victorious while improving to a 5-1 C-USA record.
The Roadrunners lead the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including batting average (.322) and earned run average (3.43). Antonio Valdez is on a reached-base streak of 26 games (all of UTSA's games this season). Simon Miller leads the nation in wins (6) and ERA (0.64).
D1Baseball released its midseason position rankings this week as a slew of Roadrunners made the lists at their respective positions. Simon Miller checked in at No. 9 in the top 50 relievers list, while Luke Malone is No. 53 in the top 100 starting pitchers list. Antonio Valdez earned No. 18 in the top 50 third basemen list, while Matt King landed at No. 29 in the top 50 shortstops and Leyton Barry sits at No. 40 in the top 50 second basemen list. Uli Quiroga earned a feature at No. 33 in the top strike-throwers list.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .412, notching a conference-high 42 hits, 40 RBI, team-high eight home runs and eight stolen bases, along with 32 runs, six doubles, and four triples. Shane Sirdashney leads the Roadrunners with 33 runs, Matt King has a team-best five triples and Leyton Barry leads the team with nine doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the nation with a 0.64 ERA and six wins, along with a team-high 41 strikeouts. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (4-0, 28 K's), Luke Malone (1.89 ERA, 1.08 WHIP), Ruger Riojas (2-0, .94 WHIP) and Daniel Shafer (.78 WHIP, 5 saves).
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.322), ERA (3.43), hits (290), on-base percentage (.425), runs (208), scoring (8.0), slugging percentage (.518), triples (16), triples per game (0.62), WHIP (1.32), win-loss percentage (.769) and walks allowed per nine innings (3.36).
Miller leads the nation with a 0.38 ERA and six wins. Valdez is fourth in the nation with 40 RBI, while recording a conference-best 40 hits, 1.68 hits per game, 37 RBI, 1.68 RBI per game and 76 total bases. Sirdashney leads the conference with 33 runs, while King leads the C-USA with five triples and 0.20 triples per game.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold an 20-6 overall record, after an 8-2 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Three Roadrunners notched two hits apiece – Antonio Valdez, Sammy Diaz and Tye Odom. Odom also hit his first career home run. Braylon Owens and Drake Smith both shined on the mound, turning in two scoreless frames each.
UTSA also holds a 5-1 Conference USA record, owning the top spot in the standings following a series win over Rice in Houston this past weekend. In a battle for first place, UTSA went head-to-head with Rice on March 24-26. The first game was an extra-inning thriller in which the Roadrunners took a 4-3 win over the Owls in 11 innings. Rice took the middle game by 13-8, but the Roadrunners bounced back with a 6-5 win in the finale to secure the series win and take sole possession of the top spot in the C-USA.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
Western Kentucky holds a 16-10 record (2-4 in Conference USA action), after a 10-8 loss to No. 16 Kentucky on Tuesday. The Hilltoppers were voted to finish last (10th) in the Conference USA standings. Two weekends into conference play, Western Kentucky has gone 1-2 against both Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech to earn a 2-4 record. Senior infielder Tristin Garcia was named to the preseason all-conference team.
Drew Reckart leads the Hilltoppers with a .379 batting average and 23 RBI, while Ty Crittenberger leads the team with 39 hits and 32 runs. Left-handed pitcher Devyn Terbrak is set to start on Sunday, leading the team with a 1.95 ERA and 35 strikeouts. The Hilltoppers lead the conference with 23 doubles play, averaging 0.88 per game. Western Kentucky leads the conference and is sixth in the nation with 63 doubles (2.42 per game). The Hilltoppers also lead the conference in sacrifice situations, fourth in the nation with 26 sacrifice bunts and 23rd in the nation with 15 sacrifice flies.
SERIES HISTORY VS WKU
The Hilltoppers hold the 10-7 advantage in the all-time series over the Roadrunners. UTSA last faced WKU on May 27, 2021, in an elimination game at the Conference USA Championships, falling to the Hilltoppers, 10-9, in an extra-inning walk off. Leyton Barry and Shane Sirdashney each notched two hits in the game.
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.
ON DECK
Next, the Roadrunners face crosstown rival UIW for the second time this season. The April 4 matchup is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at the Cardinals' home ballpark at Sullivan Field.
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