SAN MARCOS, Texas – The UTSA baseball team launched a season-high four home runs in a dominant 11-2 victory over Texas State in the first Battle of I-35 matchup on Tuesday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
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 first inning went scoreless as starting pitcher Ryan Beaird sat down the Bobcats in order on a strikeout, groundout and flyout. Texas State put the first number on the board in the second inning as a run scored on a fielder's choice. After a scoreless third inning, UTSA tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. Taylor Smith worked a four-pitch walk, before Walker tripled to left center on the first pitch he saw to bring him home.
The Roadrunners took the lead in the fifth frame as Antonio Valdez launched a home run to left center, his fourth of the season and all within the past week alone. In the bottom of the frame, Miller sat down the Bobcats in order with a groundout and two strikeouts.
UTSA exploded in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs. Eight batters reached base before recording the first out. Diaz opened the inning with a single, before Smith sent a moon shot to left center. Walker then followed this with a solo homerun to left field. Shane Sirdashney worked a full-count walk, before Leyton Barry doubled to drive him in. King singled to drive in Barry after a walk to Valdez. Caleb Hill followed this with a single to load the bases. After a couple of strikeouts, Smith earned a four-pitch walk to drive in Valdez. A passed ball advanced all the runners and drove in King for a 9-1 UTSA lead.
The Roadrunners scattered a couple of runs across the seventh and eighth innings, including a solo jack by Barry and a single by Walker to drive in Hill. Daniel Shafer closed down the final inning, opening up the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout. A Bobcat reached base on a fielding error and scored on a double a couple batters later but that would not be enough for Texas State. UTSA took an 11-2 victory over Texas State in the first of two scheduled Battle of I-35 matchups this season.
The Roadrunners improve to an 11-3 record, while Texas State falls to a 7-5 overall record.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners return home to host a three-game series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from March 10-12 at Roadrunner Field.
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