AUSTIN — Senior outfielder James Taussig launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth as UTSA baseball defeated Kansas State University 10-2 on Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
After securing their first at-large bid, the Roadrunners (45-13) opened up their fourth NCAA regional appearance by putting three runs on the board in the first four innings. The Wildcats (31-25) managed two runs against the ‘Runners’ premiere pitchers, junior Zach Royse and sophomore Robert Orloski, as UTSA cruised to its first NCAA tournament win in program history.
“I told the guys when the game ended, ‘Be happy. Enjoy it. Enjoy the moment, but we’re here to get three wins,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “I’ll take it all in when it’s over. I hope its not over for a while. There’s more to do, getting ready for Texas.”
Wildcats pitcher Jacob Frost walked senior catcher Lorenzo Morresi and sophomore infielder Jordan Ballin, setting up Taussig for his three-run bomb.
“Coach Aguayo with the reports,” Taussig said of his home run. “I was looking for the changeup up, and I got it [on the] first pitch. Coach Hallmark always tells us ‘Sometimes the first pitch is the best one to hit,’ and I was ready to go. I got my best pass off and controlled what I can control: max bat speed and balanced swing. I got the results, just super happy with that.”
Senior catcher Andrew Stucky gave UTSA the lead in the opening inning with an RBI single through the middle of the diamond to score Taussig. In the third, senior infielder Norris McClure smashed a solo-home run over the left field wall to make the score 2-0.
While the ‘Runners’ enjoyed success on both sides of the ball, it was Royse that Hallmark tagged as the difference in the game. Coming off a substandard performance against Tulane in the American Athletic Conference tournament, Royse rebounded by pitching a gem in arguably the biggest game — so far — of his tenure at UTSA.
“Zach Royse was the difference. He was fantastic. One of the better pitched games of the season against a team that can really hit,” Hallmark said. “The execution was fantastic. It was a very different pitching plan than usual. I was proud of Zach for a lot of reasons, but I was a little worried that it was a lot to put on him, to pitch people so different. Coach Butler called the pitches, and he was fantastic, and Zach executed them.”
Taussig led in RBIs with three, while he, McClure and junior infielder Ty Hodge tied for the lead in hits with two each. The rotation of Royse, Orloski and junior Christian Okerholm allowed two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts.
UTSA will face The University of Texas at Austin at 8 p.m. Saturday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for game two of the Austin Regional.
