UTSA baseball upsets No. 19 Old Dominion: A game in photos

UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA players line up to celebrate after beating 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. – photos by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s bid for an upset of 19th-ranked Old Dominion got off to a fast start.

The Roadrunners got home runs by Griffin Paxton and Dylan Rock and a bases-loaded triple by Leyton Barry to score nine runs in the first inning of a 12-10 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Roadrunner Field.

Even after jumping out to a 9-3 lead, the victory didn’t come easy. UTSA went scoreless over the next four innings and Old Dominion fought back to take a 10-9 lead after five innings of the seven-inning game.

UTSA put together two hits, a walk and a hit batter in the bottom of the sixth inning and take the lead back.

Roadrunners relief pitcher Arturo Guajardo came in with one out in the sixth and got final five outs to finish the game for UTSA.

Update: UTSA beat Old Dominion 11-0 in Saturday’s second game to sweep the doubleheader. UTSA pitchers Jacob Jimenez, Grant Miller and Hunter Mason combined to hold Old Dominion to two hits.

UTSA piled up 23 runs and 27 hits in the two seven-inning games of the doubleheader. UTSA didn’t bat in bottom of seventh in either game, so all their offense basically came in 12 innings.

The four-game weekend series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Joshua Lamb singles with the bases loaded in the first inning to drive in Dylan Rock (top right) with UTSA’s first run of the game.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Shea Gutierrez singles with the bases loaded in the first inning to drive in Nick Thornquist (top right) with UTSA’s second run of the game.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Leyton Barry triples with the bases loaded in the first inning to give UTSA a 5-3 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Chase Keng (4) scores with Joshua Lamb (2) close behind on Leyton Barry’s first-inning triple.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Shea Gutierrez (left) heads home to score from first on Leyton Barry’s first-inning triple.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Chase Keng (4), Joshua Lamb (2) and Shea Gutierrez (3) all scored in the first inning on a triple by Leyton Barry (top), who slides into third.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Joshua Lamb (2), Shea Gutierrez (center) and Chase Keng (4) celebrate after they scored on a first-inning triple by Leyton Barry.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Leyton Barry looks into the UTSA dugout after hitting a bases-loaded triple in the first inning to give the Roadrunners a 5-3 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Griffin Paxton hits a three-run homer to give the Roadrunners an 8-3 lead in the first inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Griffin Paxton celebrates with UTSA coach Pat Hallmark on the way home after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Griffin Paxton (left) and Jonathan Tapia (1) celebrate at home after Paxton’s three-run homer in the first inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Roadrunners celebrate after Griffin Paxton (22) hit a three-run homer in the first inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Roadrunners celebrate after Griffin Paxton (22) hit a three-run homer in the first inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Dylan Rock blasts a home run to score for the second time in the first inning and give UTSA a 9-3 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Dylan Rock waves at the UTSA dugout as he rounds third base after hitting a first-inning home run.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Roadrunners celebrate after Dylan Rock (27) hit a first-inning home run to give UTSA a 9-3 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Roadrunners celebrate after Dylan Rock (27) hit a first-inning home run to give UTSA a 9-3 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Leyton Barry advances to third base in the sixth inning on a hit by Jonathan Tapia.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Leyton Barry heads home after an Old Dominion error. Barry scored on the play to tie the game 10-10 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Jonathan Tapia (1) makes it to third after a single and an Old Dominion error in the sixth inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Griffin Paxton singles in the bottom of the sixth to drive home two runs and give UTSA a 12-10 lead.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Jonathan Tapia (1) scored the go-ahead run and Josh Kileen scored right behind him on a hit by Griffin Paxton to put UTSA in front 12-10 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Josh Kileen (5) heads for home on the play that gave UTSA the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Josh Kileen slides safely into home in the bottom of the sixth inning with UTSA’s final run of the game.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA reliever Arturo Guajardo recorded the final five outs of the game for the Roadrunners.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Left fielder Leyton Barry catches a fly ball for the final out in UTSA’s victory over Old Dominion.
UTSA beat 19th-ranked Old Dominion 12-10 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s outfielders celebrate after the final out against Old Dominion.

UTSA baseball’s Sean Arnold photo gallery

UTSA's Sean Arnold playing outfield against UT Arlington on March 6, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Sean Arnold playing outfield against UT Arlington on March 6, at Roadrunner Field.
Sean Arnold is a grad student from Bryan, Texas.

The 5-foot-11 utility player saw action in 10 of UTSA’s first 38 games, starting five. He is batting .211.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA baseball infielder Taylor Barber photo gallery

UTSA infielder Taylor Barber playing against Rice on April 24, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA infielder Taylor Barber playing against Rice on April 24 at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA baseball infielder Taylor Barber photo gallery

Taylor Barber is a grad student from Argyle, Texas. He previously played at Northeast Texas Junior College.

The 6-foot-2 infielder has played in 14 of UTSA’s first 37 games, starting five. He is batting .280.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA baseball’s Ryan Hunt photo gallery

UTSA's Ryan Hunt tracks down a fly ball against Middle Tennessee on April 11, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Ryan Hunt tracks down a fly ball against Middle Tennessee on April 11 at Roadrunner Field.
Ryan Hunt is a junior from Flower Mound, Texas.

The 5-foot-11 outfielder has played in 10 of UTSA’s first 37 games, starting seven. He is batting .318.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA baseball catcher Josh Kileen photo gallery

UTSA catcher Josh Kileen tags a Middle Tennessee base runner at the plate on April 10, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA catcher Josh Kileen tags a Middle Tennessee base runner at the plate on April 10 at Roadrunner Field.
Josh Kileen is a redshirt freshman from San Antonio. He was an all-district player at Reagan High School in 2017 and 2018.

The 5-foot-10 transfer from Wichita State has been UTSA’s second catcher this season and played in seven games so far, starting six. He is batting .267.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA baseball’s Shea Gutierrez: photo gallery

UTSA baseball Shea Gutierrez by Joe Alexander
UTSA infielder Shea Gutierrez puts the tag on a Middle Tennessee base runner at Roadrunner Field.
Shea Gutierrez is a junior from Pflugerville. He started his college career at Incarnate Word and moved to UTSA at the same time as Roadrunners coach Pat Hallmark.

The 5-foot-11 infielder has played in 16 of UTSA’s first 37 games this season, starting 13. He is batting a team-high .362 with 14 RBIs.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA batters Rice to split series

UTSA baseball Chase Keng by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Chase Keng (4) celebrates after hitting a fifth-inning home run against Rice on Sunday.
UTSA beat Rice 12-4 Sunday to split their four-game weekend series at Roadrunner Field.

Rice won the first two games on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. UTSA won the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader 12-6. The Roadrunners scored 24 runs in 14 innings over the last two games.

UTSA had 18 hits on Sunday with four extra-base hits including a home run by Chase Keng. Griffin Paxton and Jonathan Tapia had four hits each, Ian Bailey had three and Dylan Rock and Keng both had two hits.

UTSA starting pitcher Simon Miller (3-1) went five innings and got the win. The freshman right-hander from Canton, Texas, allowed one run on three hits and struck out three batters.

Arturo Guajardo was the first UTSA reliever, going 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five. Daniel Garza finished the eighth inning. Luke Malone struck out two batters as he pitched the ninth inning.

The Roadrunners’ next Conference USA series is on the road next weekend against UAB. UTSA’s final conference home series is May 7-9 against Old Dominion.

UTSA baseball Simon Miller by Joe Alexander
Simon Miller was the starting pitcher for UTSA and got the win against Rice.

UTSA splits pair with Rice

UTSA baseball Hunter Mason by Joe Alexander
UTSA reliever Hunter Mason entered in the third inning and got the win against Rice in Saturday’s second game.
UTSA jumped on Rice early in Saturday’s second game for a 12-6 victory and split of their Conference USA doubleheader at Roadrunner Field.

UTSA reliever Hunter Mason entered the second game in the third inning and dominated Rice the rest of the way. The senior from Boerne Champion held Rice scoreless over the final 4 2/3 innings to get the win. He allowed one hit with six strikeouts and one walk.

Rice’s first two pitchers struggled in a big way in UTSA’s victory. The Roadrunners scored five runs before recording their first hit. UTSA’s first six batters got on base on three walks and three hit-batters to score three runs. On what should have been the first out of the frame, UTSA scored two more runs on an error to go up 5-1.

UTSA led the rest of the way.

Roadrunners starting pitcher Kobe Jaramillo looked solid the first two innings before being pulled in the third. By avoiding the walks and hit batters that plagued Rice, Jaramillo left the game with UTSA leading by four runs.

Rice won the first game 5-4, rallying late after UTSA built a 4-2 lead.

UTSA and Rice wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. game Sunday at Roadrunner Field.

UTSA baseball Kobe Jaramillo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Kobe Jaramillo started Saturday’s second game on the mound and limited Rice to one run in the first two innings as the Roadrunners built a 10-1 lead.

Rice takes series opener from UTSA

UTSA's Jonathan Tapia hits a two-run double in the fourth inning against Rice on Friday, April 24, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Jonathan Tapia hits a two-run double in the fourth inning against Rice on Friday at Roadrunner Field.
Rice scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to break a tie and beat UTSA 8-6 in Conference USA action Friday at Roadrunner Field.

The game was the opener of a four-games series. UTSA and Rice play a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

Rice’s Justin Dunlap singled to lead off the sixth inning, went from first to third on a throwing error on a grounder, and scored the go-ahead run on a ground out.

Rice reliever Brandon Deskins pitched the final five innings to earn the win. He held UTSA scoreless on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.

Jonathan Tapia led UTSA with two hits, two runs and two RBIs. He had a two-run double to left-center and also scored in the fourth inning, when the Roadrunners scored three times to take a 6-5 lead.

Rice's Justin Dunlap (right) celebrates after scoring the go-ahead run against UTSA in the sixth inning on Friday at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
Rice’s Justin Dunlap (right) celebrates after scoring the go-ahead run against UTSA in the sixth inning on Friday at Roadrunner Field. – photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA pitcher Luke Malone photo gallery

UTSA baseball Luke Malone by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Luke Malone was the starter and got his first win of the season against UT Arlington on March 5 at Roadrunner Field.
Luke Malone earned his first win of the season when he dominated in a start against UT Arlington.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander threw seven innings against UT Arlington on March 5 at Roadrunner Field, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

Malone has pitched in 10 games this season, five starts and five in relief, and is second on the team in appearances. He has a 2-1 record and 5.70 ERA and leads the Roadrunners in innings pitched with 30.0.

Malone appeared in four games in the covid-shortened 2020 season, making one start. He earned all-district honors as a high school senior, when he had a 10-1 record and 1.81 ERA at Round Rock.