Senior outfielder Mason Lytle, the reigning American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, earned four RBIs and helped UTSA baseball hand Texas Southern University a 12-2 loss on Friday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (13-3) scored five runs in the second inning, with three coming off the bat of Lytle. The nation’s collegiate leader in hits is a vital cog in the ‘Runners offense and a key reason why they’re on a 12-game win streak; his stellar play continued in game one against the Tigers (4-10).
“In my assistant coaching days at Rice [University], where we went to Omaha multiple times, there were some terrific players. There were major leaguers on those teams, and Mason is right up there with all of them,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “He’s everything you want in a player.”
UTSA tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second after senior outfielder Garrett Gruell singled into right field, allowing freshman utility Nathan Hodge to score. Lytle broke the game open with a three-run home run over the left field wall.
“It was great,” Lytle said of his performance. “It was great to see the ball good, put some good swings on the bat and see the results come and help the team get the win. We try not to ride the highs or the lows too long. [We] just try to be steady through it all.”
N. Hodge opened up the third by reaching on a fielding error from Tigers outfielder Daylon Carleton. A few plays later, he scored unearned after senior infielder Norris McClure reached on a fielder’s choice; Lytle brought McClure home by driving an RBI single into right field.
In the next at-bat, junior infielder Ty Hodge sliced an RBI single to the shortstop that allowed Gruell to score and pushed Lytle to third base; a wild pitch from Texas Southern pitcher Sidney Moore gave way for Lytle to score and provided UTSA its final run of the inning.
The Roadrunners rolled out a pitching rotation consisting of junior Zach Royse, senior Gunnar Brown and junior Christian Okerholm. The trio allowed two runs on six hits while dishing out 12 strikeouts across seven innings.
UTSA sealed the win with an RBI single from Gruell in the bottom of the sixth and back-to-back home runs from junior outfielder Drew Detlefsen and T. Hodge in the seventh.
Lytle led the team in RBIs, and Gruell — who made his first start of the season against the Tigers — led in hits with three. The Roadrunners improved to 4-0 against Texas Southern, with the last matchup between the two occurring in 1994. UTSA is now on a 12-game win streak, which ties the program record.
“The ‘Runners are hot,” Lytle said after the game.
Game two of the team’s series against the Tigers is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
