SAN ANTONIO – The No. 22 UTSA baseball team is set to host its final home series of the season, going head-to-head in a battle for first place with No. 18 DBU this weekend at Roadrunner Field.
Due to impending weather, the series will open with a doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m. with the second game to follow 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. The third game could be played on Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting. All three games will be available to stream on CUSA.tv with a subscription.
SENIOR APPRECIATION
The Roadrunners will recognize 14 seniors and 15 graduates throughout the weekend with Senior Day scheduled to be approximately 30 minutes before the third game of the series.
UTSA is spotlighting these 14 seniors for Senior Day: Antonio Valdez, Josh Killeen, Leyton Barry, Robbie Maldonado, Garrett Poston, Josh Salinas, Shane Sirdashney, Drake Smith, Nick Crespo, Taylor Smith, John Chomko, Luke Malone, Daniel Shafer and Sammy Diaz.
HE'S A CATCH
Senior Josh Killeen was added to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List this week.
His defensive skills behind the plate have shined through UTSA's huge pitching shift this season, leading the Roadrunners to the second-lowest ERA in the conference. The veteran expertise he brings has helped the pitching staff, knowing they can trust his calls.
In his final season, he has succeeded at the plate as well, collecting 37 hits, 20 runs and 19 RBI. He has also recorded 10 extra-base hits, including eight doubles and two home runs.
QUICK HITS
This series between No. 22 UTSA and No. 18 DBU will be the first time in program history that a ranked UTSA Baseball team hosts another ranked team at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA has won all 11 of its three/four game weekend series this season, including five series sweeps. Four of those weekend series sweeps came in conference play against Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Rice. The Roadrunners are undefeated (12-0) in conference play on their home field at the Bird Bath.
The Roadrunners are at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in batting average (.309) and second in earned run average (4.39). Simon Miller is first in the nation in ERA (1.36), 24th in the nation in wins (7) and fifth in the nation in saves (11). Antonio Valdez is third in the nation in triples (7) and Sammy Diaz is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (22.3).
In conference play, UTSA leads the conference with a .401 on-base percentage in league play, while sitting in second with a .489 slugging percentage. Playing in close situations in C-USA action, the Roadrunners have held strong as they hold the conference-best 12 saves.
With UTSA trailing DBU by just a half game in the Conference USA standings, this series has huge postseason seeding implications for both teams. In nearly every statistical category in the conference, fans will see the Roadrunners and Patriots right next to each other in the top two spots.
REELING IN THE RANKINGS
The Roadrunners earned the No. 22 spot in D1Baseball rankings for the second consecutive week this week. The team also earned rankings by Baseball America (23), NCBWA (22), Perfect Game (24) and their first appearance in the USA Today Coaches' Poll (24) this week.
The baseball team made its first appearance in the D1Baseball Rankings in program history on April 17, clocking in at No. 25. The Roadrunners also earned a spot on three other polls during that week - No. 22 in Baseball America, No. 25 in Collegiate Baseball (first appearance) and No. 28 in NCBWA.
The Roadrunners first found a spot in national rankings during the week of April 3, earning No. 24 in Baseball America, No. 27 in NCBWA and No. 23 in Perfect Game.
SIMON (MILLER) SAYS
Junior Simon Miller has had a truly phenomenal season, leading the nation in ERA for more than a month. As of May 11, he's currently first in the nation in ERA, 24th in the nation in wins and fifth in saves.
Miller earned a pair of midseason honors, including D1Baseball Midseason All-American Second Team and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. He was named to NCBWA's Preseason Watch List before the start of the season as well.
Miller earned the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 28, his first weekly honor in his career as a Roadrunner. He earned the honor after earning a win and save, leading UTSA to a 4-1 record during the week of Feb. 21.
Prior to the start of the season, he was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List and Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team as one of just two relief pitchers on that conference team (the other reliever being his teammate Daniel Shafer).
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .389, 52 runs, 74 hits, 61 RBI, seven triples, 17 stolen bases and 11 home runs. Taylor Smith is tied with Valdez for the team-high 11 home runs, while Leyton Barry leads the team with 13 doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the team with a 1.36 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, seven wins, 11 saves and 67 strikeouts. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (7-2, 52 K's), Luke Malone (1.33 WHIP, 66 K's), Ruger Riojas (5-0, 1.22 WHIP) and Ryan Beaird (4-1, 1.42 WHIP).
IN THE C-USA AND IN THE NATION
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.312), hits (518), on-base percentage (.414), triples (26) – third in the nation in the category – triples per game (0.54), and walks allowed per nine innings (3.22).
Miller leads the conference in ERA (1.36), while him and Uli Quiroga are second the league in wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 74 hits, (34th in the nation), 61 RBI (25th in the nation) and seven triples (third in the nation). Sammy Diaz is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (22.3).
GOING STREAKING
The Roadrunners have been a part of a lot of streaks this season, the biggest one being their 10-game winning streak early in the season.
Taylor Smith had a reached-base streak of 34 games. Antonio Valdez went on a similar streak, reaching base in 26 consecutive games to start the season.
Caleb Hill and Leyton Barry are currently on 15-game reached-base streaks, while Josh Killeen has reached base in the past 12 games.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold a 36-12 overall record, after sweeping Rice in a three-game home series last weekend.
In the series opener, UTSA battled back from a 4-0 deficit to win the game by 9-7 as Ryan Beaird earned his fourth win of the season and Simon Miller earned his 10th save. Antonio Valdez and Caleb Hill each led the Roadrunners with three hits apiece.
The Roadrunners then battled back from a 5-0 deficit in the second game to take a 10-8 win to earn the series victory. Daniel Garza earned his fifth win and Simon Miller earned his 11th save, his second consecutive game with a save. Once again, Hill and Valdez both led UTSA with three hits each.
UTSA finished that series with Rice with an 11-6 win to earn a series sweep, the first game that series that the Roadrunners weren't trailing by multiple runs early. Freshman Ruger Riojas earned his fifth win (5-0) while Matt King and Valdez led the team offensively with two hits.
UTSA started last week off with a 18-2 loss to WAC powerhouse Sam Houston on May 2. Aiden Baumann collected his first two career hits in three at-bats in the game.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
Dallas Baptist has a 37-12 overall record and 20-4 in Conference USA, after defeating Central Arkansas by 12-5 on Tuesday. In conference play, the Patriots have won all eight three-game series they've played. Four of those have been series sweeps, including two teams the Roadrunners have also swept in Florida Atlantic and Rice.
The Patriots were picked to finish second in their Preseason Coaches' Poll with four first-place votes and they are currently sitting in the lead in the conference standings.
Grant Jay leads the Patriots with a .340 batting average, 14 doubles and 16 home runs. Three more DBU players are batting over .300, including Nathan Humphreys (.333), Kodie Kolden (.331) and Ethan Mann (.305).
Dallas Baptist leads the conference in multiple categories, including doubles (106), ERA (4.26), home runs (89), runs (397), sacrifice flies (31), scoring (8.1), slugging percentage (.533), stolen bases (101), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.74) and WHIP (1.37).
SERIES HISTORY VS DALLAS BAPTIST
The Patriots and Roadrunners are tied at 8-8 in the all-time series history. The last time UTSA and DBU played each other was on Feb. 25, 2014, when the Roadrunners fell to the Patriots at home by 6-5 in an 12-inning game.
UTSA has a 1-5 record against Dallas Baptist at home. The Roadrunners last defeated the Patriots, 11-4, on May 26, 2013, in the Western Athletic Conference Championship.
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 will travel to Abilene, Texas, for their final midweek game of the season, facing Abilene Christian on May 16. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. (CT) on WAC Network.
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