SAN ANTONIO — Coming into this series, the University of South Florida pitcher Michael Senay had given up eight earned runs and seven walks in eight appearances. UTSA baseball drove in seven runs and drew five walks against Senay, cruising to a 7-3 win on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners (25-10, 8-3 AC) wasted no time getting on top of Senay, leading by three after three innings. Sophomore utility Caden Miller extended UTSA’s lead with a two-run blast in the fourth before sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark added two more with an outfield single and a Bulls’ (24-10, 5-6 AC) fielding error. Graduate pitcher Conor Myles got the start for the Roadrunners and lasted 6.2 innings while allowing one earned run and dishing out five strikeouts. Senior stopper Sam Simmons sealed the Roadrunners’ win with another dominant appearance, highlighted by a bases-loaded strikeout.
“We did well with Senay,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “He’s got the best numbers. His WHIP and ERA, I think, are the best in the league. I’m proud of our guys for that. [South Florida’s] righty that came in, [Jorge] DeCardenas, held us down a little bit, but we’re very pleased with how we competed and hit.”
After a leadoff double from Miller in the first, senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen pushed him to third with a groundout. Junior outfielder Lane Haworth brought in Miller with a sacrifice fly to left field, giving UTSA an early 1-0 lead. In the second, freshman infielder Aidan Eschelman sliced a two-RBI double into left field before advancing to third on the throw.
“He’s good,” Pat Hallmark said of Eschelman. “He’s been working hard to keep his feet calm and in place. Today, he was able to do that.”
In the fourth, Miller followed up Eschelman’s second hit of the day with a homer. Christian Hallmark capped off the Roadrunners’ scoring with a two-out double that brought in Detlefsen — unearned — and Stucky.
For Myles and Simmons, arguably the Roadrunners’ two best pitchers, it was business as usual on the mound. The duo combined for just one earned run on the day, seven strikeouts and one walk.
“Myles was great. Sam was good, too,” Pat Hallmark said after the game. “I’m a little mad at myself, and I’m glad it didn’t cost us, but the last batter that got the double on Myles — I even said it out loud in the dugout, ‘He’s taking.’ You can tell the way people take pitches when they’re seeing the ball better. He took the changeup down and didn’t even offer at it at all.
“Anyways, I thought Myles was great. I could’ve got him out of there a tiny bit sooner, but I’m glad they didn’t score that inning, so it didn’t affect his ERA.”
Game three of UTSA v. South Florida is set for 3:50 p.m. Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
