RUSTON, La. – The UTSA baseball team will conclude regular season play with a three-game series against defending Conference USA champion Louisiana Tech on Thursday-Sunday. All three games will be streamed on CUSA.tv from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston, Louisiana.
QUICK HITS
This matchup will look familiar to fans as the Roadrunners and Bulldogs went head-to-head in the Conference USA Championship game last season. In a back-and-forth battle for the title, a walk-off single by Louisiana Tech finished the job as UTSA lost a heartbreaker to end a phenomenal postseason run.
The Roadrunners are at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in batting average (.312) and third in earned run average (4.84). Simon Miller is seventh in the nation in ERA (1.98) and sixth 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 (21.6).
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
UTSA dropped to 36-16 overall after a 10-8 loss to Abilene Christian on Tuesday. Taylor Smith hit a game-tying grand slam in the fifth inning, before taking a 8-7 lead on a dropped third strike in the sixth. The Wildcats scored a couple in bottom of the frame to regain the lead, eventually taking the 10-8 win.
The Roadrunners hold a 36-15 after being swept by Dallas Baptist this past weekend in UTSA's final home series.
In a doubleheader on Friday, the Roadrunners fought hard but lost both by 11-7 and 11-9. Josh Killeen led the Roadrunners with four hits and six RBI across the two games, including a game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the eighth in game two. Garrett Poston and Dalton Porter both went 3-for-4 in the opener.
In the series finale, DBU secured the series sweep as UTSA fell 9-6. Antonio Valdez and Garrett Poston each went 3-for-4 in the game. Killeen launched his fifth home run of the season, notching a home run in each game of the series.
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 42 hits, 25 runs and 26 RBI. He has also recorded 13 extra-base hits, including eight doubles and five home runs.
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 17, he's currently sixth in the nation in ERA, 44th in the nation in wins and sixth 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 .394, 57 runs, 80 hits, 63 RBI, seven triples, 14 doubles and 17 stolen bases. Taylor Smith has a team-high 12 home runs, while Leyton Barry is tied with Valdez for the team-leading 14 doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the team with a 1.98 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, seven wins, and 11 saves. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (7-2, 52 K's), Luke Malone (1.36 WHIP, 74 K's), Ruger Riojas (5-0, 54 K's) and Ryan Beaird (4-1, 1.61 WHIP).
IN THE C-USA AND IN THE NATION
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.312), hits (566), on-base percentage (.415), triples (27) – third in the nation in the category – triples per game (0.52), and walks allowed per nine innings (3.28).
Miller leads the conference in ERA (1.98), while him and Uli Quiroga are second in the league in wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 80 hits (24th in the nation), 63 RBI (29th in the nation) and seven triples (third in the nation). Sammy Diaz is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (21.6).
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.
Five Roadrunners have active double-digit reached-base streaks, including Taylor Smith (10), Antonio Valdez (12), Leyton Barry (19), Caleb Hill (19) and Josh Killeen (16).
REELING IN THE RANKINGS
After a tough week in which UTSA went 0-3, the Roadrunners dropped out of every poll except the NCBWA which they took the last spot at No. 30.
The Roadrunners earned the No. 22 spot in D1Baseball rankings for the second consecutive week on May 8. 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) during the week of May 8.
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.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Louisiana Tech has a 26-27 overall record and 14-13 in Conference USA, after losing two of three games to Florida Atlantic last weekend. In conference play, the Bulldogs have won five of their nine series so far, including a sweep over FIU.
The Bulldogs were picked to win the league in their Preseason Coaches' Poll with five first-place votes, after winning the C-USA Championship last season. They are currently in a three-way tie for fifth in the conference standings with Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee.
Logan McLeod leads the Bulldogs with a .296 batting average, while Dalton Davis has a team-high 38 runs, 60 hits, and 43 runs. Jonathan Fincher leads the conference with eight wins and was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year by the league's head coaches.
SERIES HISTORY VS LOUISIANA TECH
The Bulldogs hold a 18-15 lead over the Roadrunners in the all-time series history. The last time UTSA and Louisiana Tech played each other in a three-game series was May 6-8, 2022, when the Roadrunners took two of three from the Bulldogs. The two teams would go on to meet again in the C-USA title game.
Louisiana Tech also holds a 10-9 advantage over UTSA when playing in Ruston, La. The teams last played there on May 14-16, 2021, when the Bulldogs took three of four from the Roadrunners. They would also play each other in the C-USA First Round in Ruston, La., a couple weeks later with the same result as Louisiana Tech defeated UTSA.
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 conclude the regular season in Ruston, La., facing defending Conference USA Champion Louisiana Tech for a three-game series on Thursday-Sunday. All three games will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
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