UTSA baseball handed No. 20 Dallas Baptist University a 15-11 loss on Saturday at Horner Ballpark.
The Roadrunners (16-5) put seven runs on the board in the fifth and sixth innings and looked primed to cruise to a win over their ranked foe. The Patriots (13-5), however, refused to go away, tying the ballgame eight all in the bottom of the sixth. The ‘Runners, aided by a historic night from senior outfielder James Taussig, put the game away in the final innings.
“It’s always great to go on the road and get a good win,” Taussig said. “As for myself, just getting in with coach Aguayo this week and kind of just changing some things, refining what my swing needs to look like. I saw the ball and put some good swings on it today.”
The ‘Runners took their first lead in the fifth after Taussig launched his first home run over the right field wall. Junior infielder Ty Hodge followed that up with an infield RBI single, and senior outfielder Mason Lytle brought in two more shortly after with an RBI double. Taussig’s second home run smacked the Dallas Baptist scoreboard above the right-center field wall and brought home Lytle.
After relinquishing the lead in the bottom of the sixth, freshman utility Nathan Hodge regained it for UTSA with a RBI single that allowed his brother, T. Hodge, to score. Lytle drove in N. Hodge and senior infielder Ty Tilson with an RBI double down the left field line; Taussig scored the final run of the inning for the Roadrunners with an RBI single.
Senior pitcher Braylon Owens got the start on the bump for UTSA and allowed six runs on five hits while throwing seven strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Robert Orloski checked in for Owens in the sixth, and he allowed five runs before eventually securing the win for the Roadrunners.
Taussig earned six RBIs and three home runs — both career highs — in the win. He’s the seventh Roadrunner of all-time to hit three home runs in a game. The last player to record this feat was Taylor Smith in 2023 against Louisiana Tech University.
UTSA picked up 17 hits and delivered the Patriots their first home loss of the season while simultaneously picking up its first win over Dallas Baptist in 12 years.
“We swung the bats really well; Braylon pitched good,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “It’s funny or ironic — I don’t know which — but we can play better. Rob didn’t pitch very good. He didn’t throw enough strikes with the off-speed pitches, and we still won. We won because of the bats, obviously J.T. was huge, but there was a bunch of other big at-bats. That’s the reason we won.”
The Roadrunners’ series finale against the Patriots is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Horner Ballpark.
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