SAN ANTONIO – The No. 25 UTSA baseball team is set for its second and final Battle of I-35 midweek matchup against Texas State on Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on CUSA.tv.
REELING IN THE RANKINGS
After a 4-0 record last week, the UTSA Roadrunners baseball team made its first appearance in the D1Baseball Rankings in program history this week, clocking in at No. 25 in college baseball's elite poll. The Roadrunners also earned a spot on three other polls - No. 22 in Baseball America, No. 25 in Collegiate Baseball (first appearance) and No. 28 in NCBWA.
This is the second time the Roadrunners have earned rankings this season as they were ranked No. 24 in Baseball America, No. 27 in NCBWA and No. 23 in Perfect Game during the week of April 3.
QUICK HITS
Since the last time the Roadrunners and Bobcats faced each other on March 7, UTSA has gone 17-5, including three weekend series sweep and a win over SEC powerhouse Texas A&M. Texas State has gone 17-8 since then, including two weekend sweeps and four ranked wins - No. 11 TCU on March 14, twice against No. 25 Southern Miss on March 18 and 19, and a win over No. 19 Texas on April 11.
The Roadrunners is at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in earned run average (3.52) and batting average (.318). Simon Miller is third in the nation in both ERA (1.30) and wins (7). Antonio Valdez is third in the nation in triples (6) and Sammy Diaz is the seventh-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (18.8).
D1Baseball released its midseason position rankings during the week of March 27 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. Simon Miller was also named to the D1Baseball Midseason All-American Second Team.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .400, notching a conference-high 56 hits, 47 RBI and six triples, team-high 13 stolen bases, along with 39 runs. Shane Sirdashney leads the Roadrunners with 40 runs, while Taylor Smith has a team-high nine home runs and Leyton Barry leads the team with 11 doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller is third in the nation in both ERA (1.30) and wins (7), along with a team-high 56 strikeouts and seven saves. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (6-1, 40 K's), Luke Malone (1.17 WHIP, 48 K's), Ruger Riojas (3-0, 1.00 WHIP) and Daniel Shafer (.96 WHIP, 5 saves).
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.318), ERA (3.52), hits (395), on-base percentage (.415), runs (279), scoring (7.8), slugging percentage (.506), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.85), triples (19), triples per game (0.53), WHIP (1.29), win-loss percentage (.778) and walks allowed per nine innings (2.98).
Miller leads the conference in ERA (1.30) and wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 56 hits (26th in the nation), 47 RBI (25th in the nation) and six triples (third in the nation). Sammy Diaz is the seventh-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (18.8).
Taylor Smith is currently on a reached base streak of 29 games, while Matt King is on a 13-game reached base streak. Antonio Valdez is on a nine-game hitting/reached base streak.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold an 28-8 overall record, after a series sweep over Middle Tennessee this past weekend. Leyton Barry had a fantastic weekend, going 7-for-12 with five RBI and five runs.
The Roadrunners collected a huge 5-1 win over Texas A&M on April 11. On the mound, UTSA dominated the game as five pitchers kept the Aggies to just one run on four hits. Five Roadrunners had two-hit games, while freshman Tye Odom led the team with two RBI and Isaiah Walker notched two runs.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Texas State has started the season with a 24-13 record, after a series sweep over Marshall this past weekend. The Bobcats have gone 17-8 since the last time the Roadrunners played them on March 7, including two weekend sweeps and four ranked wins - No. 11 TCU on March 14, twice against No. 25 Southern Miss on March 18 and 19, and a win over No. 19 Texas on April 11.
Davis Powell leads the Bobcats with a .38 batting average, 41 hits (1.46 per game), 31 runs and 13 doubles. Texas State's power-hitter Jose Gonzalez leads the team with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. Texas State's starting pitcher Peyton Zabel has a 7.71 ERA, recording 14 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched across seven appearances (five starts).
SERIES HISTORY VS TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats lead the all-time series by 61-39 over the Roadrunners. The teams last played last season on March 7, 2023, when UTSA defeated Texas State by 11-2. Simon Miller earned the win as he struck out seven batters and allowed no runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Isaiah Walker led the Roadrunners with a 3-for-5 night with a run, three RBI, a triple and a home run.
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
The Roadrunners head to the Sunshine State this weekend, facing FIU in Miami for a three-game conference series on Friday-Sunday.
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