AUSTIN — UTSA baseball swept The University of Texas at Austin 9-7, 7-4 over the weekend at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
After earning their first NCAA tournament win in program history against Kansas State University on Friday, the Roadrunners (47-13) defeated their flagship university on consecutive nights to advance to the Los Angeles Super Regional. When the ‘Runners needed them the most, pitchers Gunnar Brown, Braylon Owens and Robert Orloski stepped up and delivered arguably their best performances of the season. Powered by the team’s “Junk Yard Dog” mentality, the Roadrunners made a statement and ended the Longhorns’ (43-14) season in their home stadium.
“I’m not acting like I knew it was going to happen,” coach Pat Hallmark said of his team’s historic performance. “It takes a team effort and terrific baseball. We made one error in three games. We talk all the time about defense, I do. The kids want to hit homers and strike people out because it’s fun and sexy, but the defense was so important — steady boring defense. That’s what won us this weekend.”
Game one
Despite falling behind 6-1 in the first three innings of their opening matchup against the Longhorns, the Roadrunners refused to go down without a fight in front of over 7,000 fans. Freshman utility Nathan Hodge kickstarted the comeback with an RBI single up the middle of the diamond that allowed senior catcher Andrew Stucky to score, while senior infielder Norris McClure scored unearned. After advancing to third off a single from senior outfielder Mason Lytle, N. Hodge stole home. Senior outfielder James Taussig closed out the fifth with an RBI double into center field.
The ‘Runners continued their comeback in the sixth with N. Hodge’s second RBI single of the night to score Stucky. Lytle followed suit with an RBI single of his own, and senior outfielder Garrett Gruell lined an RBI double into left to give the team its first lead of the game.
Senior pitcher Conor Myles got the start for UTSA, but it was Owens’ late-game performance that secured the win. Owens held Texas to one run in the final four innings, striking out seven batters in the process.
“I kind of blacked out. I didn’t know what to do,” Owens said of his reaction to recording the final out.
Game two
Falling into the losers’ bracket forced the Longhorns to play a double header on Saturday, and the resulting fatigue was apparent. The ‘Runners jumped out to a seven-run lead through just three innings. McClure launched a two-run home run in the first inning that scored Taussig. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch from freshman infielder Jordan Ballin extended their lead in the third, and a bases-clearing RBI double from junior infielder Ty Hodge broke the game open. Lytle tacked on a run with an RBI single shortly after.
The Longhorns struggled to score against the Roadrunner rotation consisting of Brown and Orloski, with their scattered runs coming in late and without consequence.
The Hodge brothers led in RBIs across the two games with three apiece, while Lytle and Taussig led in hits with four each. Taussig was named the Most Outstanding Player for the regional, while he, Lytle, Owens, Royse and T. Hodge earned All-Tournament honors.
Game one of the Los Angeles Super Regional against UCLA is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
