SAN ANTONIO – A five-run fourth inning boosted Marshall past UTSA, 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field to split the weekend series.
Marshall used a five-run fourth inning to carve a lead. Scoring one run in the second and third innings, The Herd led the game for the nine innings. UTSA cut Marshall's lead to five in the sixth with a three-RBI home run from Keng.
UTSA (31-16, 15-8 Conference USA) moved to 18-5 at home in 2022 with the win and continue sport the highest home winning percentage in program history (.818). The Roadrunners won their 31st game of the year in the first game of the series, tied for the 10th most in single-season history.
A pair of homeruns from Chase Keng and Sammy Diaz kept the Roadrunners' offense alive. With two runners on base, Keng smashed a ball over the center field wall for a three-RBI home run in the sixth. Attempting to rally in the eighth, Diaz launched a leadoff homer to left field, the fourth of his career.
Jonathan Tapia, Josh Killeen and Keng led the Roadrunners at the plate. Keng and Diaz coupled to launch UTSA's two-homer hitting performance. Shane Sirdashney continued his reached base safety streak to 24 games with one hit.
UTSA started ace Luke Malone. The junior righty worked 3.1 innings, allowing five runs from seven hits with one strikeout. Jay Ward was called from the bullpen to relieve Malone in the fourth for his first appearance of the season. The junior lefty allowed two runs from two hits in 0.1 innings of work.
Ulises Quiroga replaced Ward in the fourth to work, working 3.2 innings, highlighted by a four-pitch fifth inning, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Grant Miller was called upon in the top of the eighth before Ryan Ward stepped to the mound. The sophomore righty tossed 1.2 innings, allowing no hits and no runs with one strikeout.
Marshall's Patrick Copen worked six innings, allowing four runs off six hits, with three walks on 102 pitches. Chad Heiner relieved Copen in the bottom of the seventh, tossing one inning, allowing two runs off two hits and walked three. Ryan Capuano in the bottom of the eighth to close for The Herd. Capuano tossed two innings and struckout one batter.
Marshall jumped ahead in the top of the second with a stolen run by Elijah Vogelsong and an RBI double to right center from Travis Sankovich.
Carving a four-run lead, Marshall tacked two more runs to its lead in the top of the third. A two-RBI home run from Kyle Shaefer boosted The Herd to a 4-0 advantage. UTSA put its first run on the board in the bottom of the third frame. A single from Tapia put the Roadrunners on as a double from Killeen placed UTSA in scoring position. Tapia reached home on an RBI from Flores.
A five-run fourth inning pushed Marshall's lead to eight runs. A second home run from The Herd and three more runs with two outs booted their lead to 9-1.
The Roadrunners used a three-RBI home run in the bottom of the sixth to cut Marshall's lead to five. With two outs and Flores on first, Sirdashney singled to short stop. Then Keng launched a ball over the center field wall for a three-run hit as UTSA trialed 9-4.
With bases juiced, two outs and a full count, Sirdashney was walked and Tapia was plated, 9-5, in the seventh.
A solo home run to left field from Diaz cut The Herd's lead three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but UTSA was unable to rally in the ninth to drop a 9-6 decision to split the series.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Chase Keng (6), Sammy Diaz (4)
Marshall: Kyle Shaefer (8), Geordon Blanton (1)
WP – Patrick Copen (3-3): 6 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
SV – Ryan Capuano (2): 2 IP, 2 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
LP – Luke Malone (7-2): 3.1 IP, 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Up Next
The series will conclude Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Roadrunner Field, live on CUSA TV as UTSA looks for a 2-1 series win over The Herd. The Roadrunners will start sophomore righty Drake Smith (0-0, 8.71 ERA).
GAME NOTES: UTSA is 31-16 and 15-8 in Conference USA … UTSA's 31 wins are tied for 10th most in single-season program history … The Roadrunners are 18-5 at home in 2022 and 34-16 under Coach Pat Hallmark … UTSA's 18 home wins are tied for 10th most in program history … UTSA's .818 winning percentage is currently the best in program history … UTSA is 23-8 in 2022 vs. right-handed starting pitchers … UTSA is 6-8 when hitting at least one homer … Sophomore C Josh Killeen has a six-game hitting streak … Killeen has doubled seven times in 2022 and nine times in his career … Killeen has four multi-RBI games on the year and five in his career … Killeen has 10 career multi-hit games and seven in 2022 … Senior RF Chase Keng doubled for the 14th time on the year and the 26th time in his career … Keng smashed his sixth home run of the year, the 16th of his career … Senior 3B Jonathan Tapia played in his 201st career game … Tapia tallied his 58th hit of the year, the 163rd of his career… Junior DH Sammy Diaz launched his fourth home run of the season, his 25th hit of 2022 …Senior CF Shane Sirdashney has reached base safely in 24 consecutive games, a team high … Sirdashney has a seven-game hitting streak … Junior RHP Luke Malone worked his 14th game of the year, his 42nd career appearance … Sophomore RHP Ulises Quiroga threw in his fifth appearance of the season … Quiroga recorded his 10th strikeout on the year …Senior 1B Ryan Flores has reached in 21 straight games … Flores has been walked 34 times in his UTSA career and 84 in his collegiate career … Junior LHP Jay Ward worked his first game of the year, the 15th of his career.
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