By Jerry Briggs
For The JB Replay

UTSA won its fifth straight game by pulling off a double steal in the eighth inning and edging past the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals, 2-1, Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.

The Roadrunners (8-2) had runners at first and third base with two outs in the bottom of the eighth when pinch runner Josh Killeen stole second and Antonio Valdez made it to the plate for the go-ahead run.

On video posted to the UTSA Twitter page, it appeared that Killeen took off for second and then stopped well short of the bag when pitcher Luis Rodriguez turned and tossed it to UIW shortstop Joe Jimenez.

Once Rodriguez made the throw, Valdez sprinted for home. Jimenez, standing near the bag at second, caught the ball and fired home.

Valdez slid head first around UIW catcher Jared Rhodes’ swipe tag and then reached back to touch home plate with his hand.

Simon Miller shut the door on the Cardinals (3-6) in the ninth inning. After Joe Jimenez hit a two-out single through the left side, Miller got Sterling Sutcliffe on a ground ball to the right side to end the game.

Coming up

Utah at UTSA, Friday, 6 p.m.
University of Louisiana at Monroe at UIW, Friday, 6:30 p.m.

UTSA’s Antonio Valdez scores the go-ahead run on a double-steal in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory over Incarnate Word at Roadrunner Field on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. – Photo by Joe Alexander