UTSA baseball picked up its 17th consecutive American Conference series win against Tulane University 2-1 over the weekend at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
Powered by a third-inning five-spot and another dominant performance from junior pitcher Connor Kelley, the Roadrunners (29-14, 12-6 American) took game one comfortably. Tulane (22-23, 8-10 American) did not fare much better in game two, trailing 6-0 after the top half of the first. The Green Wave put up two runs in the eighth to avoid the shut out, but UTSA secured the series on day two. After combining for five runs in the first two games, Tulane scored 12 on Sunday to take the finale and avoid the sweep.
Game One
In the first, junior outfielder Lane Haworth drove a two-run homer into deep right field. The Roadrunners’ five-run third kicked off with an RBI double from graduate catcher Andrew Stucky. Shortly after, senior infielder Cade Sadler popped up a sacrifice fly to score Stucky before sophomore infielder Jordan Ballin singled up the middle of the diamond. In the next at-bat, freshman infielder Aidan Eschelman doubled into left field, scoring Ballin from first base. Tulane pitcher LuisPablo Navarro walked Haworth with the bases loaded for UTSA’s final run of the inning. Kelley moved to 4-1 on the season by allowing five hits, one earned run and tossing six strikeouts across 5.2 innings pitched. The Roadrunners would go on to secure the win 7-3.
Game Two
Tulane starting pitcher Jake Toporek suffered his worst appearance of the season against UTSA in game two. The Roadrunners tacked six runs on Toporek in the top of the first. Sophomore utility Caden Miller launched a leadoff homer before UTSA loaded the bags with two subsequent hits and a hit-by-pitch on Stucky. Sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark capitalized on the opportunity, driving in senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen with an RBI single. Sadler registered the first home run of his UTSA career with a monster grand slam into deep right field.
The Roadrunners added two insurance runs in the fifth, but the Green Wave never came close, going scoreless until the eighth. Graduate pitcher Conor Myles tossed six scoreless in UTSA’s 8-2 win, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts.
Game Three
Trying to salvage the series, Tulane put up a first-inning five spot that gave itself an early cushion in the finale. The Green Wave chased UTSA’s starting pitcher, junior Kendall Dove, out of the game after just eight batters. The Roadrunners did not go out quietly, though, piecing together six runs in the fifth. Tulane eventually pulled away and avoided the sweep with a 12-7 win.
UTSA will return home for a rematch with the University of the Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.
