By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
UTSA constructed a pair of six-run innings and romped on Saturday to a 13-7 victory over the error-prone Wichita State Shockers in the first game of an American Conference series at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners weren’t without their problems, either, as they committed three errors and got picked off second base. But the Shockers made seven errors on the day to drop the opener of a doubleheader.
Game 2 on the day and in the series will be played on Saturday night at Roadrunner Field. The finale is set for Sunday afternoon.
Coming into the weekend, rain washed out a scheduled Friday game, forcing the teams to play two on Saturday.
The Shockers struck the initial blow in the top of the first, scoring three runs on two hits and two UTSA errors. Jayson Jones reached on a one-out ground ball, with the throw from UTSA third baseman Diego Diaz pulling Cade Sadler off the bag at first.
Owen Washburn followed with a single up the middle, putting runners at first and second. After UTSA starter Gunnar Brown struck out Nolan Ganter for the second out, Jaden Gustafson lifted a pop up into shallow left that fell between three converging UTSA fielders.
An error was charged to Lane Haworth, who rushed in at the last second to get his glove on a ball that dropped, allowing both base runners to score. Anthony Cepeda followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
The Roadrunners retaliated with six runs on five hits and four Wichita State errors in the bottom half of the first.
Batting against Wichita State starter Matthew Cuccias, Diaz ripped an RBI single to right field for the go-ahead run, preceding a two-run single by Jordan Ballin that gave UTSA a 6-3 lead.
From there, the Shockers kept chipping away, scoring once in the second, twice in the third and one more time in the fourth.
In the top of the fourth, Jayson Jones led off against Brown, smashing a double to left. At that point, the Roadrunners made a change, lifting Brown for Connor Kelley.
Kelley walked a batter and then allowed a one-out single, loading the bases for the Shockers.
Cepeda chopped a ball to the right side for an out that allowed another go-ahead run to score, making it a 7-6 game in favor of the visiting team.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners went hitless from the second through the fifth innings and entered the sixth still trailing by a run.
Facing left-handed reliever Heitaro Hayashi, the Roadrunners came to bat in the sixth and put another six runs on the scoreboard.
The Shockers made critical mistakes, including one on a potential inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Second baseman Zeb Henry fielded a ground ball, pivoted and threw wide of the bag at second. The ball ticked off shortstop Alex Ulloa’s glove, allowing two runs to score. After the dust cleared, the Roadrunners had an 8-7 lead.
UTSA scored again on the next play as Ulloa bobbled a ground ball and threw wide to first base, allowing another run to cross. At that juncture, Diaz stepped to the plate for the Roadrunners and drove a ball into the left-center gap for a two-run triple.
With runners at the corners, UTSA played small ball. Ballin executed a drag bunt that brought Diaz home from third to make it 12-7.
Kelley (5-1) worked six innings on the mound for the Roadrunners to earn the victory, allowing no runs on three hits with two walks. The big righthander fanned five.
Brady Pacha (3-1) took the hard-luck loss for the Shockers. Pacha, the third of four Wichita State pitchers, retired only two batters. He gave up two hits and five runs, but all of them were unearned.
Diaz led the Roadrunners offensively, going two for four with a double and a triple and three RBIs, making a return to the lineup after sitting out a 22-10 victory Tuesday over Incarnate Word.
Caden Miller and Drew Detlefsen also had a pair of hits. In Saturday’s nightcap, UTSA will go for the doubleheader sweep, which would also give them another series victory in the American.
The Roadrunners have won all six of their series in conference this season and 17 in a row dating back to the 2024 season.
Records
Wichita State 26-21, 10-9
UTSA 31-14, 13-6
Coming up
Wichita State at UTSA, Saturday, 6:35 p.m.
Wichita State at UTSA, Sunday, 1 p.m.
UTSA at Texas, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.