UTSA baseball lost its opening weekend series to the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks after dropping two of three games at Clay Gould Park.
The Roadrunners (1-2) struggled at the plate in the first two games, only managing four runs to the Mavericks’ (2-1) 12. With the team still trying to figure out which players best fit their goals, multiple newcomers made their case for a spot on the squad. The ‘Runners avoided the sweep in game three, where they put together their best all-around performance.
On Sunday, the Roadrunners picked up a 6-3 victory over the Mavericks — their first of the season. UTSA got on the board early with an RBI single from junior outfielder Tye Odom at the top of the first. In the fifth, senior outfielder Mason Lytle reached first base off a fielding error from Texas-Arlington shortstop Larry Haskins, allowing junior infielder Ty Hodge to score.
With runners on second and third base, UTSA senior starting pitcher Conor Myles was pulled in favor of Robert Orloski; the sophomore pitcher delivered two consecutive strikeouts to maintain a scoreless fifth inning for the ‘Runners.
“He’s outstanding. That’s why we’ve got him in that role,” coach Pat Hallmark said. “Rob likes the ball with the game on the line.”
Orloski’s magic ran out eventually, with the Mavericks taking their first lead with a three-run barrage in the bottom of the seventh. The UTSA offense got right back to work in the following inning; Odom picked up his second RBI of the day, shooting one into right field to tie the game at 3-3. In the same inning, UTSA extended its lead with a three-run home run from freshman utility Caden Miller.
“It felt great. I feel like it’s every kid’s dream,” Miller said of his first collegiate home run with the baseball team.
The Roadrunners held the Mavericks scoreless over the last two innings and escaped with the victory.
In the opening game, the Roadrunners suffered a 5-0 Valentine’s Day loss. Both teams were scoreless through the first five innings. Junior pitcher Zach Royse was on the mound for UTSA and tossed four strikeouts before running into trouble early on in the sixth. After earning his fifth strikeout in the first at-bat of the inning, Royse allowed five consecutive singles — the latter three being RBIs. After hitting Texas-Arlington first baseman Tate Bethel with a pitch, Hallmark decided Royse’s day was over. Junior pitcher Sam Simmons checked in and struck out the final batter of the inning.
The Panola College transfer didn’t fare much better than Royse in the seventh, allowing an RBI double and an RBI single with two outs left in the inning. The UTSA offense was unable to get anything going in the final two innings.
UTSA dropped game two 7-4. The Mavericks picked up right where they left off, holding a 4-0 lead by the end of the third inning. This time around, the Roadrunners responded, with Lytle knocking an RBI single into left field in the top of the fifth. In the sixth, freshman infielder Jordan Ballin tacked on another point for UTSA with an RBI single that scored senior outfielder James Taussig.
After Texas-Arlington homered in the bottom of the sixth, UTSA responded with two runs at the top of the seventh. A wild pitch from the Mavericks allowed senior infielder Norris McClure to score, and an RBI double from junior outfielder Drew Detlefsen brought Lytle home shortly after. The ‘Runners once again could not score in the final two innings.
“We’ve played okay,” Hallmark said of the series. “It’s a long season. We’ve got some work to do.”
UTSA will next face Baylor University at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark.
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