MIAMI – The No. 25 UTSA baseball team is set to face the FIU Panthers for a three-game series this weekend at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami. This series will not be streamed but is available to follow along through the live stats linked in this story and on the schedule page.
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
UTSA has won all eight of its three-game weekend series this season, including four series sweeps. Three of those weekend series sweeps came in conference play against Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
The Roadrunners is at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in earned run average (3.56) and batting average (.315). Simon Miller is second in the nation in ERA (1.28) and fourth in the nation in 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).
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .400, notching a conference-high 58 hits, 48 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 second in the nation in ERA (1.28) and fourth in the nation in wins (7), along with a team-high 57 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, 0.97 WHIP) and Daniel Shafer (1.04 WHIP, 5 saves).
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.315), ERA (3.56), hits (402), on-base percentage (.412), runs (282), scoring (7.6), slugging percentage (.498), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.86), triples (19), triples per game (0.51), WHIP (1.30), win-loss percentage (.757) and walks allowed per nine innings (3.01).
Miller leads the conference in ERA (1.30) and wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 56 hits (26th in the nation), 48 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 30 games, while Matt King is on a 14-game reached base streak. Antonio Valdez is on a 10-game hitting/reached base streak.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold an 28-9 overall record, following a 5-3 loss to area rival Texas State on Tuesday. Josh Killeen led the team with a 2-for-4 outing with a run and RBI, while Antonio Valdez went 2-for-5 with a RBI. Freshman Ruger Riojas earned his 12th appearance of the season and put on a show, keeping the Bobcats scoreless on just one hit while striking out seven batters in three innings pitched.
Last weekend, the Roadrunners earned 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.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU holds a 15-22 overall record and 3-12 conference record, after a 5-4 win over No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday. In conference play, the Panthers have not won a series and have been swept two of five conference series so far, including getting swept by defending champion Louisiana Tech this past weekend. FIU has earned a single win each against Dallas Baptist, UAB and Florida Atlantic.
The Panthers were voted to finish ninth out of ten teams in the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll. They currently sit in last in the conference standings.
Mike Rosario leads the Panthers with a .349 batting average, 52 hits, 41 RBI, 32 RBI and nine doubles. He has a conference-leading 19 stolen bases, averaging .50 per game. Three more Panthers are hitting over .300, including Alec Sanchez, Ryne Guida and Adrian Figueroa. Angel Tiburcio, who FIU uses as either their Friday or Sunday starter, is eighth in the nation with 10 starts.
SERIES HISTORY VS FIU
The Roadrunners lead the all-time series by 9-7 over the Panthers. The teams last played each other in a three-game series last season on April 22-24, 2022, when the Roadrunners swept the Panthers at home. UTSA is on a four-game winning streak over FIU.
UTSA holds an even 3-3 record playing FIU in Miami, the last away series being on April 13-15, 2017. The Panthers took two of three in the series at their home ballpark with UTSA winning the middle game by 12-4.
IN MIDSEASON FORM
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.
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 return home to host Houston Christian on April 25. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field on CUSA.tv.
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