AUSTIN – UTSA starting pitcher Zach Royse faced what might have been his toughest challenge of the season on Friday, opposing a Kansas State lineup that required a customized approach to each batter and an offense that had produced 92 home runs entering the NCAA Austin Regional.
He left Disch-Falk Field with his ninth victory of the season, pitching a brilliant 5.1 innings with five strikeouts, allowing just three hits and an earned run in leading the Roadrunners to the first NCAA postseason victory in program history with a 10-2 win against Kansas State.
“Zach Royse was the difference,” UTSA’s sixth-year head coach Pat Hallmark said. “He was fantastic; one of the better pitched games of the season against a team that can really hit. I’m just proud of the team.”
When scouting the Wildcats, Hallmark thought that Royse’s breaking pitch could be advantageous in facing the opposing hitters. To combat Kansas State’s unique lineup, the Roadrunners – who have typically counted on their catchers to call the pitches this season – relied on pitching coach Zach Butler to call the game from the dugout. The plan worked to perfection.
“A lot went into the scouting report,” Hallmark said. “They’re a difficult team to prepare for because they hit a lot of home runs and you can’t pitch them all the same. I was proud of Zach for a lot of reasons, but I was a little worried that it was a lot to put on him to pitch people so different. They had to know each hitter really good, so Coach Butler called the pitches and he was fantastic, and Zach executed them.”
Royse took pride in getting the Roadrunners’ NCAA Regional journey started with a victory.
“It’s definitely huge going into postseason getting that win,” Royse said. “Hopefully that got the ball rolling and we continue to do this throughout. I felt like my stuff was really good, keeping the breaker down and being able to pitch off that. That’s what worked for me.”
UTSA got into a bit of a jam in the top of the fourth inning loading the bases with no outs. But Royse kept his composure and was able to get the Roadrunners back on the right track, allowing only one run on a sacrifice fly. He was unfazed by the adversity and continued his stellar pitching.
“We talked about that this week,” Royse said. “Things aren’t going to go our way and it’s about minimizing the damage – just work through it and keep going.”
Hallmark credited Royse’s steady demeanor for his ability to work out of the pressure situation.
“Zach Royse is the same guy every time he pitches,” Hallmark said. “When he doesn’t pitch good, he’s the same Zach Royse. When he pitches like he does tonight, it’s the same Zach Royse.”
Going Yard
Senior right fielder James Taussig is a dual-threat when it comes to home runs. Entering the weekend, he ranked second on the team with nine round-trippers and he’s been equally effective at taking home runs away from opponents in the outfield.
UTSA was mindful of its opponent’s prowess at the plate, as Kansas State arrived at the NCAA Austin Regional with 92 home runs to its credit this season. But it was the 6-foot-6 Taussig who effectively put the game away for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With teammates Lorenzo Morresi and Jordan Ballin on base, Taussig made perfect contact with the first pitch of his at-bat to drive a towering three-run home run to right field.
“Coach [Ryan] Aguayo does a great job with the reports,” Taussig said. “I was looking for the change-up up and I got it first pitch. Coach Hallmark always tells us that sometimes the first pitch is the best one to hit and I was ready to go. I got my best pass off, controlled what I could control, max bat speed, a balanced swing and I got the result. I’m just super happy with that.”
Taussig, who has been part of the Roadrunners’ ascent since the 2023 season, found the milestone win to be particularly rewarding.
“I’m just so happy for the team,” he said. “Twenty-nine other guys have suited up every game for us. It’s just been so great for them. I’m super happy for all of the coaches. They took a chance on me. They told me this was the plan. One game isn’t all we had in mind, but you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Facing the Longhorns
UTSA (45-13) will look to advance to Sunday’s NCAA Austin Regional Championship game when it faces host Texas at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Roadrunners have already beaten the Longhorns once this season, earning an 8-7 12-inning victory on March 18 at Disch-Falk Field. For Hallmark and UTSA, they’ll approach Saturday’s game as they have every contest this season.
“The preparation will be like any other game,” Hallmark said. “We’ll have an offensive approach and a pitching approach. We’ll let the guys enjoy the win and we’ll be ready to play the late game. It’ll be pretty normal preparation.”