SAN MARCOS, Texas – A fierce Roadrunner rally fell two runs short in the top of the ninth, as UTSA dropped just its second midweek game on the season at No. 9 Texas State on Tuesday night, 14-12.
The Roadrunners (24-13) entered the top of the ninth inning trailing 14-5. UTSA would then threaten a comeback as it clawed all the way back to be down just two. UTSA had the bases loaded with two outs and were up against Texas State's closer, Tristan Stivors, who struck out the last batter to put the Roadrunners away. The Roadrunners outhit the Bobcats on the night but Texas State performed better with batters in scoring position and did not issue as many walks to the UTSA batters as the game featured 18 pitchers.
A triple that bounced off the centerfield wall from Sammy Diaz sparked an early 3-1 lead for the Roadrunners in the top of the third. UTSA's lead quickly evaporated as the Bobcats took the lead in the bottom of the third and never gave it back. In the batter's box, Shane Sirdashney was three-for-three with two walks on the evening. Garrett Poston and Leyton Barry also chipped in three-hit games for UTSA. Chase Keng turned in a solid performance too, as the senior extended his 12-game hitting streak and drove in three RBI for the second time in the last three contests.
Texas State (29-9, 12-3 Sunbelt) used a seven-run fourth inning to provide the cushion it needed to win Tuesday's contest. The Bobcats entered the top of the ninth with a comfortable nine-run lead, only to see it be shaved to two before they would go on to close out UTSA. The win was the Bobcats' sixth straight as they head into their next weekend series before they'll play the return game in San Antonio next Tuesday.
The Roadrunners started sophomore Ryan Ward, who worked 1.2 innings allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts on 41 pitches. Fischer Kingsbery came in to relieve Ward, pitching two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs on one hit. Ryan Beaird (1-1) would enter in the third inning and work into the fourth. The freshman threw for two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on one hit and four walks.
Grant Miller took the mound to relieve Beaird in the fourth. The southpaw threw 20 pitches, recording one out and allowing four runs on four hits with a punchout. Sophomore Simon Miller took the mound to close the fourth and carry into the sixth. The righty pitched two scoreless innings, only allowing one hit and one strikeout on 26 pitches. Reece Easterling was called to the mound from the bullpen in the sixth, pitching 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Drake Smith entered the game to take on the Bobcats' lineup. The sophomore worked one inning, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. In the bottom of the eighth, Hunter Mayo took the mound to close for the Roadrunners in his third appearance this season, the first of this month. Mayo worked one inning and allowed no runs and no hits.
Bobcat starter Otto Wofford worked one lone inning, where he allowed two runs and three hits while striking out one. Victor Loa relieved Wofford in the second, tossing two innings, allowing one run on two hits off 24 throws. Jonathan Martinez was called from the bullpen in the top of the fourth to pitch a third of an inning. Martinez allowed two hits on 13 pitches. Triston Dixon would then come to the mound to relieve Martinez. Dixon went for 1.2 innings, allowing no runs and one hit on 24 throws.
Trevis Sundgren was called in during the sixth. Sundgren threw 1.2 innings, allowing two runs in the top of the seventh off five hits. Matthew Nicholas relieved Sundgren, throwing a third of an inning, and earning one strikeout on five pitches. From the bullpen in the top of the eighth, Nick Moore came in and worked the inning where he allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one on 16 pitches. McCray Gann came in for the Bobcats to try and close out UTSA in the ninth. Gann recorded just one out and allowed five runs on four hits and walked one. Tony Robie relieved Gann and recorded zero outs, allowing two runs off one hit on eight pitches. Texas State then turned to Tristan Stivors who came in to close. Stivors recorded the final two outs, both via strikeouts, and allowed no runs.
In the top of the first, Garrett Poston reached first to lead off UTSA's offense. A single from Sammy Diaz put two runners on for the Roadrunners as a ground out from Ryan Flores advanced both runners to put two runners in scoring position. Shane Sirdashney was walked by the Bobcats' pitching staff to load the bases as Chase Keng stepped into the box. Ripping a hit through the right side past a diving first baseman put the Roadrunners on the board early with a two-RBI hit to score Poston and Diaz. The Bobcats cut UTSA's lead in the bottom of the first with one run.
With one out to start the third, Diaz ripped a ball that bounced off the centerfield wall for a triple. Flores was up next, sneaking one past left field for a double to score Diaz (3-1). Texas State took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the frame with three runs to go up 4-3.
Texas State added seven runs to the board in the fourth to carve an 11-3 lead.
The Roadrunners added two runs in the seventh to cut into the Bobcats' lead. Sirdashney sent a double down the third base line to reach base. A single from the bat of Ian Bailey sent Sirdashney home (11-4). With Bailey on base, singles from Leyton Barry and Matt King advanced and scored Bailey as UTSA cut Texas State's lead to six. Texas State responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs to increase their lead to nine, 14-5.
Ian Bailey led off the ninth inning for UTSA by ripping a single to left field. Leyton Barry followed that up with a single of his own and UTSA had two on. Freshly subbed in, Austin Ochoa singled through the left side to score Bailey and make it a 14-6 game. A Garrett Poston single would then load the bases for the Roadrunners with one out. Josh Killeen drew a walk, bringing one in and cutting the Bobcat lead to seven. Then, Ryan Flores hit one to third that bounced off the baseman's glove for an error that would score two for UTSA. Isaiah Walker was next up and drew a walk to re-load the bases for the Roadrunners. Chase Keng then had an infield single that he beat out and scored a run to keep UTSA's hopes alive as they were now down 14-10. Now with two outs, Leyton Barry singled through the right side to score one and make it a three-run game. Austin Ochoa came back around and drew a walk to force home another run as UTSA was down just two. Then, Bobcat Tristan Stivors settled down and struck out the last UTSA batter to secure the Texas State victory.
Tuesday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: N/A
Texas State: Jose Gonzalez (4)
WP – Triston Dixon (6-0): 1.2 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
SV – Tristan Stivors (8): 0.2 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
LP – Ryan Beaird (1-1): 0.2 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, 0 strikeouts
Up Next
UTSA will return home after eight straight contests on the road to host the FIU Panthers. The series is scheduled to be played over the April 22-24 weekend and each game is scheduled to be streamed on CUSA TV.
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