SAN ANTONIO – Despite a late rally by the Roadrunners, the UTSA baseball team fell short, 4-3, to Abilene Christian on Tuesday afternoon at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio.
QUICK HITS
· Alexander Olivo and Broc Parmer led the team with two hits apiece.
· Braylon Owens picked up six strikeouts in 4.2 scoreless innings.
· UTSA fell to an 8-9 record, while Abilene Christian improved to an 11-7 record.
· The Wildcats took a 3-2 lead in the all-time series record between the two teams.
BREAKDOWN OF THE GAME
Starting pitcher Ryan Beaird allowed a couple runners on the basepaths via walks, but struck out two and ended the first frame unscathed.
The Roadrunners opened scoring quickly in the bottom of the first. Olivo hit a double with one out to set himself in scoring position. After a groundout to put two outs on the scoreboard, Parmer beat a 1-2 pitch count to hit a hard single to third base and bring home Olivo, giving UTSA a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the first. With bases loaded and no outs, the top of ACU’s lineup Garrett Williams won a full count to hit a sacrifice fly and bring in the run.
The Roadrunners found themselves in a tough situation in the third as the Wildcats loaded the bases with just one out. A walk to Aaron Staehely then gave ACU the go-ahead run, 2-1.
UTSA tried to rally in the bottom of the third as two hits by pitch and a walk loaded the bases. Abilene Christian then turned to Dash Albus to take over on the mound and he struck out the next two batters to end the Roadrunners’ hope for a rally.
ACU added to its lead as a two-run home run in the fourth extended it to 4-2. In the fifth frame, Ryan Ward and Owens combined to strike out the side in order. The Roadrunners tried to get something going in the bottom of the fifth by getting three runners on the base paths, but the inning ended without a run across the plate.
Owens again sat down the Wildcats in order, while picking up a pair of punchouts in the sixth frame. He then allowed a baserunner in the seventh, but another strikeout and a double play got him through the scoreless inning.
The Wildcats could not shake Owens as he posted two more 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth frames, forcing four flyouts in that span.
Matt King opened the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw, cutting UTSA’s deficit to 4-2. Five Roadrunners batted in the inning after him, even allowing Diego Diaz to get 90 feet away from scoring, but UTSA’s rally ended with a groundout.
Caleb Hill started the bottom of the ninth with a single up the middle, before advancing all the way to third on a groundout and wild pitch. Mason Lytle then doubled to left center to drive in Hill and cut UTSA’s deficit to just one run. One hit by pitch, fielder’s choice and walk later, the bases were loaded with two outs. Unfortunately, another fielder’s choice forced the final out as UTSA fell to Abilene Christian by 4-3.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners continue their week at home, hosting a three-game series against Northwestern which features a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon and a 1 p.m. series finale on Sunday.
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