Connor Kelley Pitches During Friday Road Win Over New Mexico State (March 6, 2026 - Las Cruces, N.M.)Connor Kelley Pitches During Friday Road Win Over New Mexico State (March 6, 2026 - Las Cruces, N.M.)
Baseball

Kelley Shines in Dominant Series Opener

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – UTSA Baseball continued its 10-game road trip on Friday, visiting New Mexico State for the first of three bouts at Presley Askew Field. The Roadrunners jumped ahead early while Connor Kelley excelled on the mound, holding the Aggies scoreless through six innings of work. UTSA ran away offensively, amassing a double-digit lead before a late home surge produced a 10-2 final score. The Navy & Orange (12-1) improved their winning streak to five games, snapping NM State’s streak of the same length while dropping the hosts to 6-7 on the year.

FIRST INNING

After a quite top half from the Roadrunner bats, Connor Kelley took to the mound for his third consecutive Friday start. The Aggies put runners on the corners before a groundout sent Kelley back to the dugout unscathed.

SECOND INNING

Jacob Silva walked one out before Garrett Gruell ripped a single to left. With two away, Brandon Bishop reached on a fielder’s choice as a throwing error sent Silva and Gruell home for the game’s first score. Meanwhile, Kelley maintained his momentum, entering a stretch of 14 straight batters faced without allowing a hit.

FOURTH INNING

Nathan Johnson sent the second offering of the inning over the left-field wall for his first collegiate four-bagger. Gruell then notched his second single of the night before a pinch-hitting Caden Miller reached safely. Diego Diaz then subbed in to hit as well, dropping in an RBI double down the right-field line. Each of the next two batters drove in runs with a sacrifice fly, expanding the visitors’ lead to 6-0.

SIXTH INNING

After a fourth and fifth frame that took Kelley just 17 total pitches to retire both sides in order, the junior took to the mound for his final inning. Two more Aggies went down quickly before the right-handed star wrapped up his best outing of 2026 with a swinging strikeout, heading to the dugout following a masterful Friday start.

SEVENTH INNING

Aidan Eshelman started things off with a single up the middle before Drew Detlefsen and Lane Haworth walked to load the bases. Jacob Silva then planted a single down the right line, scoring Eshelman. Nathan Johnson followed up with his second RBI of the evening, sending Detlefsen home on a sacrifice fly. Christian Okerholm then took over pitching duties, utilizing a double play to cap off a hyper-efficient, six-pitch hitless first frame.

NINTH INNING

After a Josh Arquette RBI single the inning prior, the ‘Runners drew two more walks to set up Eshelman at the plate with two away. The freshman shortstop sent the payoff pitch through the left side, scoring Diego Diaz for UTSA’s 10th run of the game. In the home half, two singles and a triple scored a pair of Aggie baserunners, cutting into the deficit before Okerholm put the game away on a ground ball back up the middle, tossing it to Miller at first base for the squad’s fifth straight victory at 10-2.

NUMBERS OF NOTE

  • UTSA is out to its best start to a season this millennium. The only other team in program history to start at least 12-1 was the 1994 squad, who opened up 13-1.
  • The ‘Runners have now scored 10 or more runs in nine of 13 games this season.
  • Lane Haworth became the first Roadrunner in 2026 to tally four walks drawn in a single game.
  • Nathan Johnson belted the first home run of his collegiate career, opening the fourth inning with a blast to left field.
  • Connor Kelley picked up the win on the mound, improving to 1-0 on the season while striking out a half dozen Aggies.
  • In the win, the visitors drew eight walks, totaling at least four for the 12th game this spring.
  • The Roadrunners were two outs away from recording their first shutout of the campaign before NM State got on the board.
  • With four runs in the frame on Friday, UTSA is now outscoring its opponents 15-0 in all fourth innings this season.
  • UTSA is now 8-2 all-time against NM State, improving to 3-1 in Las Cruces.                                                                                             

UP NEXT

The two sides will meet once again on Saturday for the midway point of the three-game series. First pitch from Presley Askew Field is slated for 6 p.m. as the Roadrunners look for their 12th consecutive regular-season series victory. Head Coach Pat Hallmark seeks his 200th win at the helm for UTSA while NM State hopes to force a rubber match on Sunday. The action in Las Cruces, N.M., will not be streamed, but live statistics will be available at utsa.statbroadcast.com.

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