Jake Qualia Pitches During Tuesday Road Loss At Houston Christian (March 17, 2026 - Houston, Texas)Jake Qualia Pitches During Tuesday Road Loss At Houston Christian (March 17, 2026 - Houston, Texas)
Dylan Trevino
Baseball

Comeback Falls Short in Houston

Box Score

HOUSTON – Roadrunner Baseball returned to Space City on Tuesday, visiting Houston Christian for a midweek non-conference clash. After building an early lead, UTSA found itself in a seven-run hole twice, but clawed its way back. Thirteen hits, led by five from Drew Detlefsen, were enough to get the visitors within one in the top of the ninth, but yet another late rally fell short as the Huskies (11-9) prevailed 12-11. With the loss, UTSA dropped to 15-6 on the season with American Conference play on deck this weekend.

FIRST INNING

Drew Detlefsen got things going with a leadoff double off the wall just two pitches into the game. While the senior was advanced to third, nothing came of the opportunity, sending HCU to the plate. In his ninth appearance, freshman Jake Qualia made his first collegiate start on the mound. The Huskies plated a run with two hits and a stolen base, taking a 1-0 lead early on.

SECOND INNING

A first-pitch single from Garrett Gruell sparked the top half before Diego Diaz was hit by an offering. Jordan Ballin and Drew Detlefsen then each notched RBI base knocks on back-to-back pitches, bringing in both Gruell and Diaz. In the home half, HCU took the edge right back with a two-run double off the left-field wall, pulling ahead 3-2.

THIRD INNING

After a scoreless showing from the visitors, true freshman Ryan Mason made his collegiate debut on the bump. The San Antonio native did record his first strikeout at the Division I level, but a pair of errors proved costly. HCU also drew four walks as UTSA exhausted three pitchers in the frame, expanding the hosts’ lead to 9-2.

FOURTH INNING

The Navy & Orange embarked on their journey to a comeback with a productive fourth frame. Jacob Silva ripped a leadoff triple just past a diving center fielder before Christian Hallmark ran out a bunt single to score the catcher. An eventual sacrifice fly from lane Haworth brought his fellow outfielder home, cutting the deficit to five. On the mound, Self produced the first 1-2-3 inning of the night for either side.

FIFTH INNING

Yet another leadoff triple came courtesy of Caden Miller on the first offering, setting up Garrett Gruell’s RBI double just one pitch later. With the margin cut down to four, Self exited after recording two outs, making way for James Hubbard. The home side tallied a pair of hits around another ‘Runner error, swelling its advantage back to 12-5.

SIXTH INNING

For the third straight frame, UTSA hung a crooked number on the board. Jordan Ballin’s five-pitch walk was followed up by a Detlefsen base knock up the middle. Still with no Roadrunners retired, Lane Haworth notched his first hit of the night, going for extra bases to the left-center gap. The junior drove in two of his teammates, bringing his side back within five.

SEVENTH INNING

UTSA recorded its fourth, fifth and sixth walks of the game courtesy of Diego Diaz, Christian Hallmark and Lane Haworth. Jacob Silva’s single came between the first two free bases of the frame, preluding an eventual sacrifice fly from Ballin. Detlefsen then continued his hot streak with an RBI single to left, bringing Silva home. After Haworth’s walk, a substituting Mason Jacob came through with a run-scoring groundout for his side’s 10th tally of the night. Christopher Gutierrez remained solid on the bump, striking out two while keeping HCU at bay.

EIGHTH INNING

Neither side produced a run in the penultimate frame, marking the first such stanza of the evening. Mike DeBattista assumed pitching duties, sitting down the Huskies in order in an inning bookended by strikeouts.

NINTH INNING

Back-to-back walks led things off for the Roadrunners, setting up Detlefsen’s fifth hit of the affair to load the bases. Haworth then ripped the next pitch deep to right field for a sacrifice fly. The drive cut the deficit to one, but HCU turned it into a double play back in the infield. Down to their final out, the visitors went down swinging, coming up just short in their comeback attempt.

NUMBERS OF NOTE

  • Drew Detlefsen’s five-hit outing was the first by a Roadrunner in a single game this spring.
  • UTSA scored 10 or more runs for the 13th time in 21 games this season, dropping to 11-2 when doing so.
  • Tuesday’s outing was the Roadrunners’ sixth this season without a home run.
  • UTSA dropped to 16-5 all-time against HCU, snapping a 10-game winning streak.
  • Lane Haworth led the way with four RBIs in the loss, notching a double and two sacrifice flies.
  • Detlefsen and Ballin were the other two Roadrunners with multiple RBIs, each adding two.
  • Jake Qualia finished his first collegiate start with 2.0 innings pitched, tossing 33 strikes on 50 pitches while tallying one punchout.
  • Christopher Gutierrez notched his second consecutive scoreless outing with 1.1 innings pitched.
  • Seven of the Huskies’ 12 runs in the game were unearned.
  • Between the two sides, a dozen pitchers saw action on Tuesday night.
  • Twenty total runners were left on base, with each team stranding 10.
  • UTSA scored at least one run in six of nine innings at HCU.

UP NEXT

After their midweek clash, the ‘Runners will stay on the road to open American Conference play. The squad is set to visit Florida Atlantic (13-8) for a three-game set commencing on Friday, March 20. All the action from Boca Raton will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.

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