SAN ANTONIO – UTSA used three three-run innings on the night to power the offense past FIU, going on to win the series opener 12-4.
The Roadrunners scored early and consistently, as they never trailed in Friday's series-opening contest. UTSA outhit FIU and only allowed one earned run on the evening.
UTSA (25-13) got three-hit games from Jonathan Tapia and Ian Bailey, as the offense put 12 on the board. Tapia led the team in runs, hits and RBI to set the tone for the night. One of Bailey's hits on the evening was his tenth home run of the year. Joining Bailey in the home run club was Garrett Poston. The sophomore launched his first collegiate home run deep over the centerfield wall. Poston's homer scored two, as he was one of three Roadrunners with a two-RBI game. Shane Sirdashney and Ryan Flores also each chipped in two-RBI games.
FIU (11-24, 4-12 C-USA) was not able to find its footing against Malone, though they did score three unearned runs off him. The Panthers got two multi-hit games, one of which was from leadoff man Adrian Figueroa. Figueroa had a team-leading three hits on the night and batted in a run, both led the team. Third-baseman Noel Perez hit his first home run of the year for FIU in the top of the ninth.
The Roadrunners used their usual series-opening starter, as ace Luke Malone (6-1) turned in another solid Friday night outing. Malone went for five and a third, allowing five hits and three runs (all unearned) while fanning five. When Malone's night was over, coach Pat Hallmark turned to Reece Easterling. Easterling gave UTSA 1.2 innings where the righty allowed two hits and no runs. The Roadrunners called upon Ulises Quiroga to begin the eighth. Quiroga gave up one hit and one run (Perez's solo shot) while striking out four in his time on the mound.
Panther starter Kevin Martin (0-3) lasted just an inning and a third as the righty gave up three runs on no hits while walking four Roadrunners. To steady the ship, FIU turned to Zac Lampton. The southpaw went for 1.2 innings and allowed four runs on three hits. The Panthers then turned to Richie Pena to pitch. Pena went for two innings, the longest of any Panther, and gave up two runs on five hits. Pena also led the Panthers in strikeouts, as he punched out three. Entering in the sixth was David Eckaus. Eckaus pitched the inning and allowed three runs on two hits. Eckaus also walked two and struck out two in his eight batters faced. Orlando Hernandez got his turn in the seventh, as he pitched a hitless/scoreless inning and struck out one. Lastly, the Panthers threw Mario Fernandez in the eighth. Fernandez allowed just one hit in his inning on the mound and struck out one Roadrunner.
UTSA got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Tapia led the inning off by being hit by a pitch for the 48th time in his career. Next up, Poston drew a walk and UTSA had two on. Tapia was able to advance to third on a fielder's choice and with one out UTSA had runners on the corners. Ryan Flores was the next batter, and he sent his sixth sacrifice fly of the year to rightfield, scoring Tapia and putting UTSA up one.
The Panthers matched UTSA's run with one of their own in the top of the second. Mario Zabala singled leftfield to get a runner on. Then, Noel Perez doubled to centerfield and brought Zabala home as the Panthers tied it up at one apiece.
In the bottom of the second frame, UTSA got the bases loaded with one out. Sirdashney was up and drew a walk on four straight balls, earning an RBI and putting UTSA up 2-1. Then, with the bases still loaded, Flores hit a ground ball to the shortstop who tried to turn two but had a throwing error on the way to first. Two Roadrunners came across as Flores earned an RBI and UTSA ended the inning with a three-run lead, going up 4-1.
UTSA tacked on another run in the bottom of the third thanks to Ian Bailey. The senior crushed a towering home run to left field to notch his tenth of the year which leads the team.
The Roadrunners had another three-run inning in the bottom of the third. Tapia led off the fourth inning with a single to rightfield to put a runner on. Next up, Garrett Poston blasted his first home run of his career to centerfield as the two-run shot out UTSA up by six. Sirdashney was next up and drew his second walk of the game. Flores followed it up with a single to left-centerfield which advanced Sirdashney to third. Next up was Diaz who grounded into a double play, however, Sirdashney scored on the play and UTSA ended the inning with an 8-1 lead.
FIU got two runs back in the top of the fifth inning. Perez reached on a UTSA error to get the first Panther on. Two batters later, Adrian Figueroa tripled to centerfield to score Perez. Two batters after Figueroa, Alec Sanchez belted his own triple to centerfield. The triple scored Figueroa and FIU pulled within five, as they were down 8-3.
UTSA tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame. Tapia doubled to rightfield, placing a Roadrunner on base. Sirdashney came through with a single through the left side which would score Tapia and put UTSA up 9-3.
The Roadrunners added three more runs to their total in the sixth. A walk, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for UTSA with two outs. Tapia stepped back into the box and blasted a double to centerfield which cleared the bases. After all three runners came across home, UTSA found itself with a 12-3 lead.
The Panthers' Noel Perez hit his first home run on the season in the top of the ninth, as he sent one over the leftfield fence. The Panthers attempted ninth-inning rally ended with that though, as they were unable to muster any more runs. UTSA would close out FIU and go on to win, 12-4.
Friday Notes
Home Runs
UTSA: Ian Bailey (10), Garrett Poston (1)
FIU: Noel Perez (1)
WP – Luke Malone (6-1): 5.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs (all unearned), 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Kevin Martin (0-3): 1.1 IP, 0 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout
Up Next
UTSA and FIU will meet again, tomorrow April 23 here at Roadrunner Field for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and it will be righty, Jacob Jimenez, on the mound for UTSA against FIU's Patrick Pridgen. The game will be streamed on CUSA TV.
- UTSA -
