SAN ANTONIO – On Friday, UTSA Baseball returned to the diamond for the first time in 250 days. After a magical run to the Super Regionals a season ago, this year’s squad set out on its journey to write a new chapter. South Dakota State was the first challenger to stand in UTSA’s path, visiting Roadrunner Field for Opening Weekend. The home bats were already in midseason form, notching 19 hits and four home runs en route to a 17-4 victory as Head Coach Pat Hallmark’s squad improved to 1-0 on the season.
FIRST INNING
Star pitcher and preseason All-American Robert Orloski earned the nod on the mound to start the 2026 campaign. The junior exited the game in the first inning with an injury, making way for senior Mike DeBattista. South Dakota State managed to get one run on the board, but its lead was short-lived.
In the bottom half, Drew Detlefsen and Nathan Johnson’s singles bookended an Andrew Stucky walk, bringing up Christian Hallmark with two outs and the bases loaded. The first-year Roadrunner singled up the middle, scoring two and handing his team a lead it would not relinquish.
SECOND INNING
After an uneventful top half, Josh Arquette wasted no time getting his offense back in stride. On the second pitch, he mashed a home run over the wall in left field, notching his first deep ball at UTSA. Two more singles were both brought home on a Detlefsen double, expanding the lead to 5-1. The home team then produced three straight RBI singles, amassing a six-run frame with just one out. With runners at the corners, Arquette stepped back into the batter’s box for the second time in the inning. The sophomore drove a ball into right field, scoring Nathan Johsnon on a sacrifice fly for the seventh and final run of a masterful frame from Pat Hallmark’s offense.
THIRD INNING
DeBattista was precise, using just 14 pitches to mow down the Jackrabbits in order while adding a strikeout. After they picked up their bats, the Roadrunners did even more damage in inning three. Jacob Mason and Caden Miller quickly reached via singles, bringing up Andrew Stucky with one away. The preseason all-conference catcher mashed a 1-1 pitch 394 feet off the left-field netting to score three runs and open up a 12-1 cushion.
SIXTH INNING
Both sides returned to the scoring column as the sun set, including a solo home run for the visitors. Diego Diaz answered just minutes later, however. The junior belted a ball deep to left field, plating Aidan Eshelman to take control by a margin of 14-2.
SEVENTH INNING
Despite a sizeable deficit, SDSU showed fight with no run rule in effect. The visitors utilized two hits, a stolen base, a fielder’s choice and a hit batter to score a pair in the top half. UTSA’s Broc Parmer stepped up in response, mashing the longest blast of the day. The catcher’s towering 404-foot drive over the center-field wall had his side up 15-4 through seven.
EIGHTH/NINTH INNING
Christian Okerholm stepped onto the mound to earn the final six outs, making an electric diving grab to cap off a hitless top of the eighth. In the bottom half, Josh Vaughn brought in Eshelman on a well-placed double to left field. Later, Houston transfer Brandon Bishop’s sacrifice fly notched the final run of the game, with Vaughn scoring from third. Okerholm crafted a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to send the fans home happy with a season-opening victory by a score of 17-4.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- The 17 runs were UTSA’s second-most scored in a season opener in program history. In 2022, the team set its opening-day record with 21 runs in a rout at Tarleton. Friday’s mark was also the second-most in a home opener, only behind the 19 runs plated against St. Edward’s in 1998.
- On Friday, 953 spectators were in the friendly confines of Roadrunner Field, marking the highest attendance at a home opener in program history.
- Josh Arquette’s second-inning home run was his first in a Division I uniform and the team’s first of 2026.
- Mike DeBattista picked up the win on the mound after pitching 3.0 innings and striking out a pair.
- Christopher Gutierrez dealt for 1.1 innings, notching one of UTSA’s six punchouts on four scoreless outs.
- San Antonio native Ryan Self filled in for 2.0 innings before Okerholm closed, making his first appearance at the collegiate level.
- UTSA’s 19 hits matched its season high from 2025, tying a total set both versus Long Island (Feb. 23) and at Texas State (April 29).
- Andrew Stucky picked up where he left off in 2025. After launching six long balls and tallying 40 RBIs a season ago, the graduate went deep for a three-run blast in the third frame.
- Broc Parmer already matched his home run mark from last campaign, drilling a 1-0 pitch for a solo shot during the bottom of the seventh.
- Diego Diaz’s sixth-inning blast was his fifth as a Roadrunner. The third-year infielder has notched two home runs in each of his prior seasons with UTSA.
UP NEXT
UTSA is slated to return to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 from Roadrunner Field at 6 p.m. The contest was originally slated for Noon, but was rescheduled due to anticipated inclement weather in the area. The Valentine’s Day matchup with South Dakota State will no longer be streamed on ESPN+, but will still be available to follow via StatBroadcast.
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