SAN ANTONIO – UTSA Baseball played under the lights on Valentine’s Day as the opening weekend of 2026 rolled on. The hosts comfortably took care of South Dakota State, earning a 13-5 victory and their first series win of the campaign. A total of 10 different Roadrunners posted a hit in the affair as Pat Hallmark’s bunch improved to 2-0 on the young season.
THIRD INNING
Connor Kelley earned the start on the mound, allowing just one hit through the first two frames. However, the blast went over the left-field wall for the game’s first run. In the third inning, both offenses showed some life. A pair of singles from SDSU led to a scored run off a wild pitch as the Jackrabbits doubled their lead. With the home bats up, a pair of free bases preluded a Caden Miller double deep down the left-field line that cut the lead in half. Drew Detlefsen’s two-RBI single then pushed his side in front for good. Following an Andrew Stucky single, Detlefsen came around to score on a wild pitch. Three batters later, the fifth and final Roadrunner touched home, with Stucky scoring off a Josh Arquette base knock.
FOURTH INNING
On the mound, Gunnar Brown stepped in to relieve Connor Kelley after 3.0 solid innings and five punchouts. Brown would prove to allow just one hit as he retired six batters on the day. Offensively, Caden Miller notched a one-out single before stealing two bases to reach third. Following a Stucky walk, Lane Haworth brought Miller home with a single through the left side. Two pitches later, Nathan Johnosn sent Stucky in to score with a single of his own.
FIFTH INNING
On the first pitch of the frame, Josh Arquette continued his hot start to the season with a double to left. A fielder’s choice, stolen base and two free rides later, Drew Detlefsen’s grounder was enough to drive in Jordan Ballin for the second run of the stanza. Following yet another walk for Stucky, Haworth drove a ball into shallow left to plate the third run of an inning that ended with UTSA up 10-2.
SIXTH INNING
Jake Qualia, the recipient of the win on Saturday, entered for Brown to start the frame. The true freshman needed just 13 pitches to go 1-2-3 and strike out a pair before his teammates headed back to the batter’s box. Brandon Bishop led off with a single and stolen base, eventually rounding the bases on Aidan Eshelman’s base knock through the right side.
SEVENTH INNING
Just nine pitches later, Qualia set the Jackrabbits down in order yet again, landing the final out of his night via a swinging strikeout. While a single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with just one away, the home side failed to further capitalize in inning seven.
EIGHTH INNING
The final pitching change of UTSA’s night came with James Hubbard to start the eighth. The bases were loaded after a hit batter and two Jackrabbit walks. A left-center field double plated all three runners, drawing SDSU closer at 11-5. The ‘Runners answered in their final trip to the plate, though, getting a walk and a double of their own that put two in scoring position. A Broc Parmer RBI-groundout came four pitches before Jacob Silva’s first hit of the season, which scored the game’s final run at 13-5. Hubbard then notched three straight strikeouts to close the game and secure the series win for UTSA.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- Freshman Jake Qualia picked up the win on the mound after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings. The first-year ‘Runner faced the minimum and struck out three of six batters in his UTSA debut.
- After matching last year’s season-high hit total with 19 on Friday, UTSA showed out with 16 more in Saturday’s win.
- On Saturday, UTSA racked up eight walks, led by Andrew Stucky with a pair.
- UTSA has already clinched the series win over SDSU. Last year, the ‘Runners took each of the final 12 series of the season, extending their regular-season winning streak to 13 straight weekends of play.
- Both of Cade Sadler’s hits went for two bases, bumping his season batting average to .667.
- Drew Detlefsen was the lone Roadrunner with three RBIs on Saturday, adding two runs of his own.
- Connor Kelley and James Hubbard each led the way with five punchouts on the mound as the team tallied 14.
- Lane Haworth earned his second straight start in right field, tallying two hits and as many RBIs on Saturday.
- Caden Miller’s two-hit day was accompanied by a walk and two stolen bases, all while the sophomore scored twice and drove in another run.
- Through two games of offensive production, UTSA has now amassed 35 hits (including 10 for extra bases), 30 runs, 14 walks drawn and a .449 batting average.
UP NEXT
UTSA is slated to return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15, from Roadrunner Field at 1 p.m. The hosts look for a season-opening sweep and their first 3-0 start since 2020. Sunday’s contest between the Roadrunners and Jackrabbits will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via StatBroadcast.
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