UTSA baseball capped off a flawless five-game road stretch, finishing the trip with a 7-4 win over crosstown rival UIW on Tuesday at Sullivan Field.
The Roadrunners (17-12, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) returned to San Antonio after upsetting Baylor in Waco and earning their first road conference series sweep since 2015 against Tulane in New Orleans. The Cardinals (15-12, 2-4 Southland Conference) led 3-0 early before UTSA ripped off seven straight runs to walk away with its six consecutive victory.
UIW had trouble keeping up with the ‘Runners offense, consisting of the reigning AAC player of the week Mason Lytle and the returning lead-off hitter Isaiah Walker. However, it was the seasoned pitching rotation that had coach Pat Hallmark impressed.
“We did okay with bats,” Hallmark said. “I just thought the pitching was outstanding. It was nice to have [Walker] back in there though.”
After allowing three runs in the opening inning, the UTSA offense came alive in the top of the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Ty Odom smacked an RBI double up the right-field line, allowing James Taussig and Matt King to score. Junior utility Broc Parmer knocked an RBI single the following at-bat to bring Odom home. An RBI single from Lytle brought in Hector Rodriguez and Parmer to give ‘Runners the 5-3 advantage.
Odom returned with his second RBI in the fifth after smacking a single into right field, bringing King home to extend the ‘Runners lead.
“I was just sticking with the approach. It’s tough to hit,” Odom said. “I was just trying to beat the infielders.”
The Roadrunner rotation consisting of pitchers Fischer Kingsbery, Braylon Owens, Ryan Ward, Zach Longshore and Ruger Riojas allowed just one run outside of the first inning.
Riojas, last week’s AAC pitcher of the week, closed out the game on the mound for UTSA.
“If we lose late, they’re going to have to beat Ruger,” Hallmark said.
After the sluggish start to the season, the ‘Runners six-game winning streak has firmly placed themselves above .500 overall, while remaining tied with Wichita State for first in the league standings. UTSA moves to 11-4 all-time against UIW and will look to add to the win column with a three-game stand against Charlotte before returning on the road against Texas A&M.
Game one against the reigning Conference USA champion 49ers is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Roadrunner Field.
