ABILENE, Texas – The UTSA baseball team hits the road for its final midweek matchup, facing Abilene Christian on Tuesday in Abilene, Texas. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. at Crutcher Scott Field, streamed on ESPN+.
QUICK HITS
UTSA is 7-5 in midweek games this season, highlighted by wins over Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas State and Houston.
The Roadrunners are at the top of the conference in the top hitting and pitching categories, including first in batting average (.313) and third in earned run average (4.72). Simon Miller is ninth in the nation in ERA (2.04) and sixth in the nation in saves (11). Antonio Valdez is third in the nation in triples (7) and Sammy Diaz is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (20.9).
LAST WEEK FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners hold a 36-15 after being swept by Dallas Baptist this past weekend in UTSA’s final home series.
In a doubleheader on Friday, the Roadrunners fought hard but lost both by 11-7 and 11-9. Josh Killeen led the Roadrunners with four hits and six RBI across the two games, including a game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the eighth in game two. Garrett Poston and Dalton Porter both went 3-for-4 in the opener.
In the series finale, DBU secured the series sweep as UTSA fell 9-6. Antonio Valdez and Garrett Poston each went 3-for-4 in the game. Killeen launched his fifth home run of the season, notching a home run in each game of the series.
HE’S A CATCH
Senior Josh Killeen was added to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List this week.
His defensive skills behind the plate have shined through UTSA’s huge pitching shift this season, leading the Roadrunners to the second-lowest ERA in the conference. The veteran expertise he brings has helped the pitching staff, knowing they can trust his calls.
In his final season, he has succeeded at the plate as well, collecting 37 hits, 20 runs and 19 RBI. He has also recorded 10 extra-base hits, including eight doubles and two home runs.
SIMON (MILLER) SAYS
Junior Simon Miller has had a truly phenomenal season, leading the nation in ERA for more than a month. As of May 11, he’s currently first in the nation in ERA, 24th in the nation in wins and fifth in saves.
Miller earned a pair of midseason honors, including D1Baseball Midseason All-American Second Team and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. He was named to NCBWA’s Preseason Watch List before the start of the season as well.
Miller earned the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 28, his first weekly honor in his career as a Roadrunner. He earned the honor after earning a win and save, leading UTSA to a 4-1 record during the week of Feb. 21.
Prior to the start of the season, he was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List and Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team as one of just two relief pitchers on that conference team (the other reliever being his teammate Daniel Shafer).
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Antonio Valdez leads the team with a batting average of .395, 55 runs, 79 hits, 63 RBI, seven triples, 17 stolen bases and 11 home runs. Taylor Smith is tied with Valdez for the team-high 11 home runs, while Leyton Barry leads the team with 14 doubles.
On the mound, Simon Miller leads the team with a 2.04 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, seven wins, and 11 saves. Other key performers include Ulises Quiroga (7-2, 52 K’s), Luke Malone (1.33 WHIP, 74 K’s), Ruger Riojas (5-0, 1.29 WHIP) and Ryan Beaird (4-1, 1.61 WHIP).
IN THE C-USA AND IN THE NATION
The Roadrunners lead the conference in multiple categories – batting average (.313), hits (555), on-base percentage (.415), triples (26) – third in the nation in the category – triples per game (0.51), and walks allowed per nine innings (3.30).
Miller leads the conference in ERA (2.04), while him and Uli Quiroga are second in the league in wins (7). Valdez leads the conference with 79 hits (28th in the nation), 63 RBI (28th in the nation) and seven triples (third in the nation). Sammy Diaz is the third-toughest batter to strike out in the nation (20.9).
GOING STREAKING
The Roadrunners have been a part of a lot of streaks this season, the biggest one being their 10-game winning streak early in the season.
Taylor Smith had a reached-base streak of 34 games. Antonio Valdez went on a similar streak, reaching base in 26 consecutive games to start the season.
Caleb Hill is currently on a 12-game hitting streak. Hill and Leyton Barry are currently on 18-game reached-base streaks, while Josh Killeen has reached base in the past 15 games and Valdez has reached in 11 straight.
REELING IN THE RANKINGS
After a tough week in which UTSA went 0-3, the Roadrunners dropped out of every poll except the NCBWA which they took the last spot at No. 30.
The Roadrunners earned the No. 22 spot in D1Baseball rankings for the second consecutive week on May 8. The team also earned rankings by Baseball America (23), NCBWA (22), Perfect Game (24) and their first appearance in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll (24) during the week of May 8.
The baseball team made its first appearance in the D1Baseball Rankings in program history on April 17, clocking in at No. 25. The Roadrunners also earned a spot on three other polls during that week – No. 22 in Baseball America, No. 25 in Collegiate Baseball (first appearance) and No. 28 in NCBWA.
The Roadrunners first found a spot in national rankings during the week of April 3, earning No. 24 in Baseball America, No. 27 in NCBWA and No. 23 in Perfect Game.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Abilene Christian has a 31-20 overall record, after taking two of three from Tarleton this past weekend in WAC play. In midweek games, the Wildcats are 4-6, including two wins over Baylor and a win over Oklahoma. Abilene Christian is in a four-way tie for fourth with UT-Arlington, Seattle University and California Baptist in the Western Athletic Conference.
Grayson Tatrow leads the Wildcats with a .365 batting average, 21 home runs, 54 runs and 61 RBI. ACU’s Tuesday starter Max Huffling has a 3-1 record, along with a 5.80 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY VS ABILENE CHRISTIAN
The Roadrunners hold a 2-1 lead over the Wildcats in the all-time series history. The last time UTSA and ACU played each other was on May 15, 2018, when the Roadrunners defeated the Wildcats by 5-0. The two teams have never played in Abilene.
IN MIDSEASON FORM
D1Baseball released its midseason position rankings during the week of March 27 as a slew of Roadrunners made the lists at their respective positions.
Simon Miller checked in at No. 9 in the top 50 relievers list, while Luke Malone is No. 53 in the top 100 starting pitchers list.
Antonio Valdez earned No. 18 in the top 50 third basemen list, while Matt King landed at No. 29 in the top 50 shortstops and Leyton Barry sits at No. 40 in the top 50 second basemen list.
Uli Quiroga earned a feature at No. 33 in the top strike-throwers list.
Simon Miller was also named to the D1Baseball Midseason All-American Second Team.
FUEL TO THE FIVE
The Roadrunners were picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA, after a phenomenal season in 2022 in which UTSA broke multiple program records and advanced to the C-USA Championship game. Defending champion Louisiana Tech was voted to finish first. C-USA newcomer Dallas Baptist was picked to finish second, followed by Florida Atlantic at third and Charlotte at fourth.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners conclude the regular season in Ruston, La., facing defending Conference USA Champion Louisiana Tech for a three-game series on Thursday-Sunday. All three games will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
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