SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA baseball team secured its third series sweep of the season, completing a sweep over WKU with a 7-2 win over the Hilltoppers on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
QUICK HITS
- Daniel Garza earned his fourth win of the season, allowing just one run on five hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
- Braylon Owens had a phenomenal outing, keeping the Toppers scoreless on just two hits in the final two innings while fanning three batters.
- Shane Sirdashney went 3-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a home run.
- Matt King went 3-for-4 with a run, RBI and a double, while Taylor Smith, Antonio Valdez and Leyton Barry each notched two hits.
- Taylor Smith extended his reached base streak to 22 games, while Caleb Hill extended his reached base streaks to 16 games.
- This series sweep marks UTSA's third weekend series sweep and second in conference play.
- The Roadrunners added a two-game cushion to their top spot placement in the Conference USA standings.
- UTSA improved to an 23-6 overall record (8-1 in Conference USA action), while WKU fell to a 16-13 overall record (2-7 in C-USA).
BREAKDOWN OF THE GAME
The first inning was quick and scoreless as starting pitcher Drake Smith forced the Hilltoppers into a groundout and two strikeouts. D. Smith continued to sit down WKU in the second inning. After allowing a single to start the inning, he escaped unscathed with a groundout, a strikeout and a flyout.
The Roadrunners opened up scoring in the bottom of the second. A fielder's choice, error and single loaded the bases with one out. Leyton Barry then came up to bat as he looped a single to center to drive in two runs and give UTSA a 2-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers brought around a couple runs in the top of the third to tie the game at 2-2. The tie score didn't last long as a sacrifice fly by Sammy Diaz in the bottom of the frame regained the 3-2 advantage for the Roadrunners.
After a scoreless fourth frame, the Roadrunners doubled their score in the bottom of the fifth. Sirdashney started the inning off with a bang, launching a solo home run to right field. A couple more runs on a double and groundout extended UTSA's lead to 6-2.
Garza forced a three up-three down frame in the top of the sixth on a groundout, lineout and flyout. Another run scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth gave UTSA a 7-2 lead, a score that would remain for the rest of the game.
Garza continued to battle in the seventh frame, forcing a flyout and a double play to keep the Hilltoppers off the board for the fourth straight zero.
Owens came in to relieve Garza and close out the final two innings. In just his second appearance of the season, he dominated the mound. In the eighth frame, he forced a 1-2-3 inning with a flyout and two strikeouts. He opened the ninth with a groundout, before allowing a single. He then forced a pop up, followed by another single to put runners on first and second.
In a bit of a jam but still having the upper hand with two outs, Owens responded well under pressure. Three straight strikes to WKU's Matthew Meyer sealed the deal with a strikeout looking as UTSA took a 7-2 win over WKU to secure the series sweep.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners face crosstown rival UIW on Tuesday for the second time this season. The matchup is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at the Cardinals' home ballpark at Sullivan Field.
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