SAN ANTONIO – The No. 22 UTSA baseball team is set to open up a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, hosting WAC powerhouse Sam Houston at Roadrunner Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on CUSA.tv.
REELING IN THE RANKINGS
The Roadrunners moved up to No. 22 in D1Baseball rankings this week, after spending the past two weeks at the 25th spot. The team also moved up in the rankings by Baseball America (22) and NCBWA (25), while staying at No. 24 in Perfect Game this week.
Last week, UTSA held the No. 25 spot in the D1Baseball rankings, college baseball's elite poll, for the second consecutive week. UTSA also saw three more rankings during the week of April 24, including No. 23 in Baseball America, No. 28 in NCBWA and No. 24 in Perfect Game.
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.
QUICK HITS
The Roadrunners are 7-4 in midweek games this season, highlighted by home wins against UIW, Houston Christian and Houston and road wins against Texas A&M, Texas State and Baylor. The Bearkats are 3-8 in midweek games, including home wins against Houston Christian and Houston in March and a road win against Texas A&M last week.
The Roadrunners are at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in batting average (.310) and second in earned run average (3.96). Simon Miller is third in the nation in ERA (1.10), 15th in the nation in wins (7) and sixth in the nation in saves (10). Antonio Valdez is fourth in the nation in triples (6) and Sammy Diaz is the fourth-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (20.0).
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 1, he's currently third in the nation in ERA, 15th 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 .368, 55 RBI, 64 hits, 46 runs, six triples and 16 stolen bases. Taylor Smith has a team-high 10 home runs and Leyton Barry leads the team with 13 doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the team with a 1.20 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, seven wins, 10 saves and 64 strikeouts. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (7-2, 52 K's), Luke Malone (1.25 WHIP, 56 K's), Ruger Riojas (4-0, 1.22 WHIP) and Daniel Shafer (1.17 WHIP, 5 saves).
IN THE C-USA AND IN THE NATION
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.310), hits (471), on-base percentage (.412), runs (340), scoring (7.7), triples (23) – fourth in the nation in the category, triples per game (0.52), and walks allowed per nine innings (3.21). The team also holds the ninth-best win percentage in the nation at .750.
Miller leads the conference in ERA (1.10), while him and Uli Quiroga lead the league in wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 55 RBI (31st in the nation) and six triples (fourth in the nation). Sammy Diaz is the fourth-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (20.0).
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 has a reached-base streak of 34 games that just ended this past weekend at UAB. Antonio Valdez went on a similar streak, reaching base in 26 consecutive games to start the season.
Leyton Barry is currently on a combined 11-game hitting and reached base streak, while Caleb Hill is on an 11-game reached base streak.
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold a 33-11 overall record, earning a series victory over UAB in Birmingham. Although UTSA lost the series opener against the Blazers, the squad rallied for two exciting wins on Saturday and Sunday of the series.
On Saturday's win, the Roadrunners used a four-run ninth-inning to come back from a three-run deficit. A three-run homerun by Antonio Valdez lifted UTSA over UAB. On Sunday, selfless hitting combined with great pitching also helped rally the Roadrunners to a 9-4 win to secure the series victory, UTSA's 10th series victory of the season.
UTSA started last week off with a thrilling walk-off win (9-8) over Houston Christian on April 25. Caleb Hill shined for UTSA, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and two RBI. Ryan Beaird earned his second win, keeping the Huskies scoreless in the final 1.1 innings pitched.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston holds an 27-18 overall record, after going 4-0 last week with a midweek win over Texas A&M and a weekend sweep of Stephen F. Austin. The Bearkats sit in first in the Western Athletic Conference and have been a baseball powerhouse in the WAC and the Southland in recent years. Sam Houston was voted to finish second in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Tyer Davis leads the Bearkats with a .453 batting average, the fourth best batting average in the nation. He also leads the team with 77 hits (second-most in the nation) and 44 RBI. Joe Redfield leads Sam Houston with 10 home runs and 52 runs. The Bearkats have the 12th best batting average in the nation (.312) and sixth-most hits in the nation (504).
SERIES HISTORY VS SAM HOUSTON
The Roadrunners lead the all-time series by 40-39 over the Bearkats. The teams last played each other in a midweek matchup last season on April 13, 2022, when the Roadrunners took a 2-0 shutout win over Sam Houston.
UTSA holds a 19-15 advantage over Sam Houston playing at home at the Bird Bath. The Roadrunners last played the Bearkats at home on April 30, 2013, when UTSA fell to Sam Houston by 2-1 which extended the Roadrunners to seven-game losing skid against the Bearkats at home. UTSA is hoping to break that streak and earn its first win over Sam Houston at home since April 27, 2008 (5-4 win).
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 host a three-game conference series against in-state foe Rice this weekend. All three games will be available via subscription on CUSA.tv.
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