Ryan Flores’ 12th home run of the season, a solo shot in the top of the ninth, was the difference-maker in UTSA’s 7-6 win over Southern Miss baseball on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament.
The Golden Eagles (42-15) put the tying run on second base, but Slade Wilks grounded out to end the game. . Landon Harper (2-2) took the loss. The home run he gave up to Flores was only the second long ball
The loss means the 12th-ranked Golden Eagles will face FAU at 5 p.m. today in an elimination game at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg.
“I mean, it’s like eating a bad steak, you know, you put it behind you,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. It’s not that you don’t eat steak anymore. You go eat another one.”
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Moving and shaking in the 8th
Trailing 6-5 with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Southern Miss third baseman Danny Lynch lifted a high pop into short left field. The co-captain ran hard out of the box and ended up on second base when the ball dropped in front of a diving Ian Bailey.
Pinch-runner Brady Faust stole third on a play that was reviewed and upheld. Will McGillis, the team’s other co-captain, capitalized with a game-tying sacrifice fly.
Hurston Waldrep guts it out
The 6-foot-2 sophomore pitcher’s week began on a high note. The right-hander was a first-team all-conference selection, along with Wednesday’s starting pitcher Tanner Hall.
But, on Friday, Waldrep had to battle his way through a game Roadrunner lineup. After breezing through the first inning, the Georgia native struggled with command. His pitch count climbed as a result.
Waldrep allowed seven hits and three runs through 5⅔ innings. Garrett Poston’s two-strike, two-out RBI double made Waldrep’s 108th pitch his last of the day. He struck out eight and walked two.
Defensive slip-ups
On the heels of the Southern Miss bats doing their jobs in the three-run bottom of the sixth, the gloves did not follow suit.
UTSA’s Leyton Barry legged out an infield single on a bouncer to first base, beating Golden Eagles pitcher Garrett Ramsey, who was late covering the bag.
On the next pitch, Shane Sirdashney sent a high fly ball toward the left field corner. Reece Ewing didn’t make the catch and the error preceded an RBI groundout and a run-scoring hit tied the game.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected] or on Twitter @munzly.
