SAN ANTONIO, Texas — UTSA improves to 3-3 on the year after defeating LIU 6-5 and 13-0 (7) in the home opening doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Roadrunner Field.
GAME 1
THE BASICS:
Score: UTSA 6, LIU 5
Records: UTSA (2-3), LIU (2-3)
Location: Roadrunner Field
Win: Robert Orloski (2-0) | Loss: Nicolas Benhardt (0-1)
The Roadrunners kicked off the scoring early as they were able to put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Andrew Stucky started the scoring off by doubling to left center to score Caden Miller and Mason Lytle.
Odom capped off UTSA’s three-run first with an RBI single to left field to put the Roadrunners up early.
Both defenses held strong to keep the game at 3-0 for four innings until LIU started their comeback in the top of the sixth, putting one run on the board on an RBI single.
In the top of the seventh, LIU notched four runs on a two-RBI single and two RBI singles. LIU’s lead did not last long as the Roadrunners tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Stucky struck again as he hit an RBI single to score McClure to put the Roadrunners within one. With bases loaded, Andrew Detlefsen was hit by a pitch, scoring Lytle, which evened the game at 5-5.
Lytle delivered the game-winning run on a bunt single, which advanced Nathan Hodge to third, but an errant throw by LIU’s pitcher allowed Hodge to score in the bottom of the eighth inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Starting pitcher Zach Royse threw 6.0 IP, giving up just two Runs on two hits with seven strikeouts.
-Relief pitcher Robert Orloski came into the game in the top of the seventh giving up three runs on seven hits with one strikeout
-Mason Lytle went 3-4 for his fourth multi-hit game, Lytle also improved his hitting streak to five games.
-Andrew Stucky went 2-4 with three RBIs for his first multi-hit game and first multi–RBI Game.
GAME 2
THE BASICS:
Score: UTSA 13, LIU 0 (7 Inn.)
Records: UTSA (3-3), LIU (2-4)
Location: Roadrunner Field
Win: Braylon Owens (1-1) | Loss: Nicholas Finarelli (1-1)
With a slower start to game two, the Roadrunners couldn’t score until the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Lytle hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall for his first home run of the year, putting the Roadrunners up 3-0.
The runs kept coming for the Roadrunners thanks to a Detlefsen two RBI double to left center, scoring Stucky and McClure; this was Detlefsen’s fourth double of the year. Tye Odom then hit the first triple of the year down the left-field line to score Detlefsen and put the Roadrunners up 6-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Roadrunners added two more runs thanks to an RBI single by Lytle, his fourth RBI of the game and an RBI single from McClure scoring Lytle.
UTSA continued their scoring for the third consecutive inning as catcher Whitt Joyce knocked an RBI single to score Detlefsen. Freshman Miller then iced the game on a grand slam, his second home run of the year and first collegiate grand slam to give the Roadrunners a 13-0 lead.
The game concluded after the top of the seventh due to a run rule.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Braylon Owens tossed six innings in the start, giving up just two hits and striking out eight batters.
-Sam Simmons came in to close the game out, throwing just one inning but striking out two hitters.
-McClure went a perfect 3-3 at the plate for his fourth multi-hit game.
-Lytle went 4-for-4 with four RBIs for his first multi-RBI game of the year and fifth multi-hit game of the season.
-Detlefsen had a 2-3 day with two RBIs for his first multi-RBI game of the season and his first multi-hit game of the season.
UP NEXT:
The Roadrunners will close out the four-game series against LIU in a doubleheader at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Roadrunner Field.
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