After head coach Pat Hallmark was tossed during the team’s double header on Saturday for supporting senior catcher Andrew Stucky’s home run celebration, the lead coaching duties fell upon assistant coach Ryan Aguayo. Under his leadership, the Roadrunners didn’t skip a beat, handing Youngstown State University a 13-2 loss on Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
The Runners (11-3) established an early 7-2 lead over the Penguins (1-10) and maintained a steady offensive output throughout the rest of the game. The team’s mentality and approach remained the same in the series finale and it resulted in one of the cleanest wins of the season for the Roadrunners, recording zero errors and zero runs allowed in the final five innings.
“Another zero in the error column, I don’t think there was a play that should’ve been made,” Aguayo said. “Myles did a great job on the mound on a great day to hit. He gave up a couple homers early but kept staying on the attack and that’s what we needed.”
The Penguins took an opening inning lead after designated hitter Kyle Fossum launched a solo home run over the center field wall.
The ‘Runners responded immediately, scoring six runs of their own in the bottom of the first. After the top of the lineup all made their way on base, Penguins pitcher Tyler Heflin struck senior outfielder James Taussig with a pitch, giving way for freshman utility Caden Miller to score. On the next play, junior outfielder Drew Detlefsen singled down the left field line, bringing in senior outfielder Mason Lytle. Freshman infielder Jordan Ballin was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat, allowing Taussig to make his way home. UTSA capped off the inning with RBIs from freshman utility Nathan Hodge and junior catcher Broc Parmer.
The Roadrunners added six runs in the third and fourth innings as the Penguins struggled defensively. Ballin scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third and Lytle picked up an RBI single shortly after. UTSA scored its next three runs unearned as the Penguins made two fielding errors and one throwing error.
Senior pitcher Conor Myles got the start on the mound for UTSA, and while the Australian native gave up two early home runs, he still enjoyed a quality start. Myles pitched five innings and tossed eight strikeouts while allowing two runs on three hits.
Senior pitcher Jake Cothran subbed in for Myles in the top of the sixth and junior pitcher Connor Kelley checked in at the top of the seventh. The duo held the Penguins scoreless in the final two innings as the game ended by way of the run rule in the seventh inning.
The Roadrunners notched six hits in 22 at-bats. Parmer led the team in RBIs with three; Detlefsen, Lytle and Taussig tied for second on the team with two RBIs apiece.
UTSA will ride its 10-game win streak all the way to College Station, where the team will take on Texas A&M University at 6 p.m. at Blue Bell Ballpark.
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