UTSA celebrates after Caden Miller (34) hits a home run in the third inning of a 10-7 victory over the Florida Atlantic University Owls. UTSA rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win the opener of a three-game series at Roadrunner Field. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Freshman Caden Miller collected two hits, drove in four runs and bashed his sixth homer of the season Friday as UTSA rallied for a 10-7 victory over the Florida Atlantic University Owls at Roadrunner Field.

Falling behind 5-1 after two innings and trailing 6-3 entering their at bat in the bottom of the fourth, the Roadrunners kept battling and pulled out the victory in the first game of a three-game series against the Owls.

Andrew Stucky shows his emotions after scoring to cut FAU’s lead to 6-5 in the sixth inning. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA’s first home series in AAC play will continue with Game Two on Saturday at 4 p.m. and the finale on Sunday at noon.

Miller had a big day offensively and did a little of everything to help the team win. In the first inning, he was hit by a pitch and scored. In the third, he belted a two-run homer to trim FAU’s lead to 5-3.

He struck out looking in the fourth, but in the sixth, he roped a two-run double that highlighted a three-run outburst, giving UTSA the lead for good, 7-6. In the eighth, he was hit by a pitch again and scored in a most unconventional way.

On first base to lead off the inning, he moved to second on Mason Lytle’s single through the left side and to third on James Taussig’s sacrifice bunt. After another walk issued by FAU pitching, the bases were loaded with Norris McClure at the plate.

During McClure’s at bat, FAU catcher Ayden Garcia received a pitch behind the plate. As he was tossing it back to relief pitcher Kide Adetyui, Miller started sprinting toward home plate.

Adetyui threw home trying to cut off the run but sailed the ball high over the catcher’s outstretched glove, allowing Miller to score easily on what was scored as a throwing error, giving UTSA a 10-7 lead.

In the top of the ninth, UTSA reliever Robert Orloski retired three straight batters to end the game. Starting pitcher Zach Royse (2-3) was credited with the victory despite allowing six runs in six innings. Orloski worked the final 2 and 2/3 innings for the save.

UTSA third baseman Nathan Hodge makes a play in the field during UTSA’s 10-7 victory over the FAU Owls. At the plate, Hodge walked twice and scored twice. — Photo by Joe Alexander

FAU reliever Steven Andrews (2-1) took the loss.

Marshall Lypsey highlighted FAU’s five-run second inning with a grand slam off Royse. Patrick Ward added a solo homer for the Owls in the eighth off Orloski. The Owls out-hit the Roadrunners, 10-7, with Lypsey, Ward and Brando Leroux getting two apiece.

Records

FAU 19-7, 2-2
UTSA 21-7, 3-1

Coming up

FAU at UTSA, Saturday, 4 p.m.
FAU at UTSA, Sunday, noon

Notable

With Miller’s two hits in three at bats, he raised his average to .322. UTSA freshman Jordan Ballin hiked his average to .357 with a two-for-three performance. He had RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings.