RUSTON, La. – In a combined 34-run and 37-hit series opener, the UTSA baseball team prevailed over Louisiana Tech, 18-16, in an 11-inning thriller on Thursday night at J.C. Love Field.
QUICK HITS
- Leyton Barry had an outstanding 4-for-5 with three runs, four RBI, a double and a home run, extending his reached base streak to 20 games.
- Taylor Smith extended his reached base streak to 11 games as he launched three home runs, tying the program record for most home runs in a game. This marks the sixth time a Roadrunner has reached this feat, the last time by Chase Keng on March 26, 2021.
- Matt King also had three hits on the night, along with four RBI, a run and a double.
- Josh Killeen and Antonio Valdez each collected two hits to extend their reached base streaks to 17 games and 13 games, respectively.
- Simon Miller earned his eighth win (8-1) of the season as he pitched five innings while striking out three batters.
- The Roadrunners improve to a 37-16 overall record (20-7 in C-USA action), while Louisiana Tech fell to 26-28 overall (14-14 in conference play).
BREAKDOWN OF THE GAME
Just four pitches into the game, the Roadrunners opened up what would prove to be a slugfest series-opening matchup. After a three-pitch strikeout to start the first, Smith stepped up to the plate and showed fans why J.C. Love Field is often called a "hitter friendly" park. He launched a solo home run to set the tone for the game.
A few batters later, Barry singled before stealing second. He then came home on a single by King to give UTSA a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, the Bulldogs exploded for five runs as the first six batters reached base. A single to shortstop and a grand slam gave Louisiana Tech a 5-2 lead.
The second frame went much quicker as both sides went down in order. Starting pitcher Luke Malone forced two flyouts and a strikeout to put up a zero on the board.
The Roadrunners used a four-run third inning to take a 6-5 lead as a double by Barry and sacrifice flies by King and Caleb Hill regained the advantage for UTSA. In the bottom of the frame, Malone went back to work to sit down the Bulldogs in order on a flyout and two groundouts.
In the fourth frame, UTSA extended its lead to 9-5 as Garrett Poston scored on an error and Smith hit his second home run of the game, this time a two-run jack to center field.
The Bulldogs had a response in the bottom of the fourth as a three-run home run cut UTSA's lead to 9-8.
The fifth inning was the second straight in which both teams scored the same amount of runs. A solo home run by Poston, bases-loaded walk to Barry and two-RBI single by King extended UTSA's lead, before a couple of home runs by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the frame once again got them within one run (13-12, UTSA leading).
After the Roadrunners extended their lead to 14-12 on an RBI double by Killeen in the top of the sixth, Ryan Beaird retired Louisiana Tech on a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs then scattered a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth to tie game up at 14-14.
Although the Roadrunners got a couple of baserunners on in the top of the ninth, they were unable to break the tie, taking the game into extra innings.
In the 10th frame, neither team scored as the Roadrunners went down in order in the top of the frame and Miller sat down the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning.
Similar to the first inning, the first batter struck out in the 11th inning to bring up Smith who once again launched the first pitch he saw to give UTSA the 15-14 advantage and complete his hat trick. Valdez then worked a five-pitch walk, before Barry unleashed a two-run shot. A few batters later, Garrett Brooks singled to drive in King and extend UTSA's lead to 18-14.
Although the Bulldogs scored a couple in the bottom of the frame, UTSA was able to hold on for the 18-16 series-opening win over Louisiana Tech.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners and Bulldogs resume the series on Friday at 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.
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