SAN ANTONIO – Doubles from Leyton Barry and Chase Keng sparked a two-run 10th inning victory for UTSA, as they downed UIW Tuesday night at Sullivan Field.
Tied at 4-4 for three innings, pushing to a 10th, UTSA (15-10, 2-4 C-USA) would use a pair of doubles to secure a tie-breaking win over UIW (11-11, 1-2 Southland). A sacrifice fly from Isaiah Walker and a base hit by Jonathan Tapia would send Barry and Keng home for a two-run win in the top of the 10th inning.
The Roadrunners started sophomore Daniel Garza. The righty worked two innings and allowed three runs off three hits on 32 pitches. Jacob Jimenez came in to relieve Garza to start the third inning. The senior pitched for two innings, allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts. In the bottom of the fifth, John Chomko took the mound and pitched for two innings as he allowed no runs, one hit and had a team-high three strikeouts off 26 throws. Daniel Shafer entered the game in the seventh. The junior righty threw three innings and allowed no runs on two hits and one strikeout. Senior Luke Malone got the save in the tenth inning, as he closed out the Cardinals in the tenth on seven pitches.
UIW starter Carson Rollins worked five innings, as he allowed four runs off four hits with one walk and three strikeouts on 73 pitches. Kaddin Mikulik came in for the sixth inning and threw 30 pitches, allowing two hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Steve Hayward relieved Mikulik in the seventh. Hayward went for 3.2 innings and allowed two hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts. Entering for the final out in the tenth, Seth Higdon threw 0.1 innings, allowing one run off two hits on nine throws.
After two scoreless innings, the Roadrunners took an early lead in the top of the third. Matt King reached first on an error by the shortstop to get UTSA on base. With one out and two strikes, a two-run homer off the bat of Keng scored King for a two-run lead. Following Keng's hit, Tapia was hit by a pitch to reach first. A double down the leftfield line from Ian Bailey advanced Tapia to put UTSA in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Ryan Flores then scored Tapia (3-0). UIW responded in the bottom of the frame with four runs to take a one-run lead.
Both teams were scoreless for the following two innings. At the top of the sixth, Barry led off with a triple to the rightfield wall to put the Roadrunners in scoring position. With two outs and a full count, the UIW pitcher balked to send Barry crossing home plate to tie the game at 4-4.
With one strike in the top of the 10th inning, Barry singled down the right line and advanced to second on an error by UIW's right fielder. A Garrett Poston sacrifice fly advanced Barry to third, and a sac fly to rightfield from Isaiah Walker would send Barry across home plate as UTSA took a lead 5-4. Keng then came into the batter's box and sent a ball over the pitcher's head, up the middle for a double. Tapia cranked a single to left-center to score Keng and make the score 6-4 as UTSA would go on to win the game by that score.
Tuesday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Chase Keng (3)
UIW: N/A
WP – Daniel Shafer (1-1): 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
SV – Luke Malone (1): 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
LP – Steve Hayward (0-1): 3.2 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
UTSA will travel to Fort Worth, Texas tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, to face off with the TCU Horned Frogs. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Lupton Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.
