CLEARWATER, Fla. — Roadrunners take down Florida Atlantic 6-3 in their elimination game of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday, May 23 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla. The Roadrunners will now take on Tulane at 8 a.m. at BayCare Ballpark in the semifinals.
BASICS:
Score: UTSA 6, Florida Atlantic 3
Records: UTSA 44-12, Florida Atlantic 37-21
Location: BayCare Ballpark
Win: Kendall Dove (2-0) | Loss: Carter Holjes (3-4)
Florida Atlantic took an early lead over the Roadrunners, scoring a run on an error by the UTSA defense. After going hitless through the first three innings, Norris McClure picked up the first UTSA hit of the day, advancing James Taussig to third as he led the inning off with a walk.
Lorenzo Morresi’s bat stayed out as he picked up his second double of the tournament to score Taussig. Garrett Gruell then gave UTSA a 2-1 lead as he grounded out to the shortstop, giving way for McClure to score.
FAU regained the lead in the top of the fifth as they hit a lead-off home run to right field. The Roadrunners managed to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Taussig led off the inning with a single. McClure picked up his second hit of the day, advancing Taussig to second. Drew Detlefsen came up to bat and drove in his 70th RBI of the season as he singled up the middle to score Taussig. With McClure on third, Gruell hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring McClure and giving UTSA a 4-2 lead.
In the seventh, FAU was able to shorten the lead as the scored a run on an RBI single.
Detlefsen got things started in the eighth for UTSA as he singled to center field. Gruell got his first hit of the day to advance Detlefsen to second. Diego Diaz got his first RBI and hit of the day as he singled to centerfield to score Detlefsen and put Gruell on third.
Jordan Ballin came into the game to pinch run for Gruell and quickly scored all thanks to Ty Hodge, who laid down a sacrifice bunt, putting UTSA up 6-3.
The Roadrunner arms were stellar today as starting pitcher Conor Myles threw five innings, giving up just one earned run with three strikeouts. Kendall Dove came into relief and pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one run with three strikeouts. Robert Orloski threw in his third consecutive game, tossing 2.1 innings, giving up just one hit.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- With six runs in today’s ballgame, UTSA now holds the American Athletic Conference runs record with 499 this season.
- Head coach Pat Hallmark grabbed his 250th career win.
- McClure picked up a single in the bottom of the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 22 games.
- McClure recorded his 19th multi-hit game of the season.
- Gruell had two RBIs on the day for his fifth multi-RBI game of the year.
- Detlefsen recorded his second hit of the day in the eighth for his 20th multi-hit game of the year.
-UTSA-