SAN ANTONIO – A six-run third and a 10-run seventh inning gave UAB a series opener 18-7 win over UTSA on Thursday night at Roadrunner Field.
Tied after the first inning, the Blazers used two-high scoring innings to lead for the remaining eight innings. UTSA (33-19, 17-11 C-USA) moved to 19-6 at home and are now 5-4 all-time against the Blazers.
Chase Keng led the team at the plate with a career high five hits. He was the 15th player since 2002 to reach five hits and the first since Bryan Arias in 2018. Josh Killeen, Garrett Poston, Shane Sirdashney and Ian Bailey each had two knocks each. Kody Darcy, Leyton Barry and Matt King contributed one hit to total 16 as a team.
UTSA starter Daniel Garza (3-1)earned his fifth career start. The righty worked three innings, allowing seven runs off seven hits and three strikeouts. Abraham DeLeon relieved Garza in the top of the fourth to throw three innings. DeLeon tossed a scoreless appearance, only allowing one hit and stuckout three batters. Grant Miller was called from the pen in the seventh for an out before Ryan Beaird came to the mound. Beaird allowed five runs from two hits. Hunter Mayo was called in relief during the top of the seventh. Mayo worked 2.2 innings, allowing five runs off four hits with three strikeouts to close the game for UTSA.
The Blazers started Jackson Reynolds on the mound. Reynolds tossed two innings, allowing one run from two hits and two strikeouts. Tyler O'Clair (2-3) was called from the bullpen in the third to relieve Reynolds. O'Clair threw four innings, allowing two runs off five hits with one walk. Brady Greene was brought in during bottom of the seventh, allowing two runs off two hits before Jordan Bonk was brought in to relieve him. Bonk tossed 1.2 innings, allowing two runs from five hits. Zaylen Perry came in to finish the game for the Blazers. Perry pitched one inning, allowing two hits.
UAB put the first run on the board with a solo home run from Josh Sears in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Barry tied the game in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to center field to plate Keng, who doubled to right center.
The Blazers carved a six-run lead in the third to take a 7-1 lead. An error by second base gave UAB two runs before Caleb Floyd singled up the middle to plate two runners. A double from Henry Hunter advanced Sears. Logan Braunschweig rounded out the to of the inning for UAB with a two-RBI single to right center as the Blazers created a six-run advantage over the Roadrunners.
Sirdashney singled through the right side to put UTSA on base in the fourth. Keng singled and advanced to second on the throw to move Sirdashney to third. A ground out to third base by Diaz scored Sirdashney to add a second run on the board for UTSA.
Sirdasheny cut UAB's lead to a four-run game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home over the left field wall as UTSA trailed 7-3.
A seven-run seventh from the Blazers increased UAB's lead to 10-3. A run from a wild pitch kickstarted the Blazers' scoring. A two-RBI single from Peyton Puckett boosted the lead to seven runs. A failed pickoff allowed Hunter to cross home, and two runs were walked in for a 14-3 lead. A three-RBI home run from Sears boosted UAB to a 14-run lead.
King's first career home run came in the bottom of the seventh. Sending a ball over the left center wall, King scored Ian Bailey, who had doubled down the left field line. The Roadrunners trailed 17-5.
With Keng and Walker on base, a double from Bailey plated Keng and advanced Walker. With two outs, a single through the left side from Darcy scored Walker to put UTSA within 10 runs.
With a runner on third, Christian Hall singled to right field to push UAB's lead back to 11 runs in the top of the ninth to win 18-7.
Thursday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Sirdashney (4), Matt King (1)
UAB: Josh Sears 2(16)
WP – Tyler O'Clair (2-3): 4 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Daniel Garza (3-1): 3 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
Up Next
The series will continue tomorrow at 6 p.m. as UTSA welcomes back UAB in the Friday night matchup. UTSA will honor its graduates pregame and the game will be broadcast on CUSA TV.
GAME NOTES: UTSA is 33-19 in 2022 and 17-11 in conference play … UTSA is 19-6 at home in 2022 and 35-17 at home under Coach Pat Hallmark … Hallmark is 65-53 in his third year and 131-100 over his five years as a head coach … UTSA is 25-11 vs. right-handed starting pitchers … The Roadrunners are 5-4 all-time vs. UAB and this was the first meeting at home … Sophomore RHP Daniel Garza made his 12th appearance and his fifth start … Garza has appeared in 25 games with five starts in his career … Garza is 3-1 in 2022 and 4-3 in his career … UTSA is 4-1 when Garza starts in 2022 … Graduate senior LF Ian Bailey made his team-leading 52nd consecutive start … Bailey doubled for the 13th and 14th time on the year and has 18 in his career … Senior RF Chase Keng doubled for the 16th time in 2022 and the 28th time in his career … Keng has reached base safely in 115 of his 141 career starts and in 44 of 49 starts in 2022 … Keng has 34 career multi-hit games and 18 in 2022 … Keng teclipsed his career high hits in a game with five… Junior 2B Leyton Barry has a team-high 33 two-strike hits … Barry has 18 two-out hits and 11 two-out RBI … Barry stole his fifth base of the year – a team-high – and has 12 steals in his career … Barry has reached base safely in 75 of 92 career starts and in 40 of 47 starts in 2022 … Junior CF Shane Sirdashney has reached base safely in 35 of 38 starts in 2022 and in 70 of 84 career starts … Sirdashney homered for the fourth time on the year … R-Sophomore DH Josh Killeen doubled for the eighth time in 2022 and the 10th time in his career … Killeen has 12 multi-hit games in his career and nine in 2022 … Killeen has reached base safely in 22 of 24 starts in 2022 and in 27 of 33 starts in his career … R-Sophomore RHP Abraham DeLeon pitched in his fifth game of the year … DeLeon worked a career-high three innings … Freshman RHP Ryan Beaird worked in his 21st game of the year … R-Sophomore RHP Hunter Mayo worked in his fifth game of the year … Freshman SS Matt King homered the first time in his career … Freshman C Isaiah Walker was hit by his fifth pitch of the year …
- UTSA -
