WACO, Texas – For the second time this season, UTSA Baseball squared off with Baylor, doing so from the Bears’ home on Tuesday. The visitors tied up the back-and-forth affair late before taking a two-run lead into the bottom of the 12th inning. Three Bears came around to score, however, capping the Navy & Orange’s longest game in more than a year by a 10-9 score in the 12th.
FIRST INNING
The first pitch of the evening went to the right-center gap for a Caden Miller double, with a four-pitch Drew Detlefsen walk placing two aboard. Then, a pair of Baylor throwing errors sent the duo around to score, handing UTSA a 2-0 lead early on.
In the home half, the Bears ripped off three hits alongside two free bases. Three different ‘Runners pitched in the inning before it came to an end with a 4-2 deficit on the scoreboard.
SECOND INNING
A hitless trip to the plate for the visitors brought the Bears back up, getting aboard with a one-out single. In a blink, the runner made his way to third on a passed ball and a stolen base, heading home on a sacrifice fly to build a 5-2 edge.
THIRD INNING
Drew Detlefsen started things off with a triple on the first offering, making way for Lane Haworth. The right fielder belted one high and deep just shy of the warning track, sending Detlefsen into home standing on a sacrifice fly. With the lead cut to two, Baylor answered with a solo home run, taking a 6-3 advantage into the game’s middle stages.
FIFTH INNING
Mason Jacob got things going with a single to left ahead of a walking Miller, leaving two aboard after a Baylor pitching change. Andrew Stucky’s two-out walk then loaded the bases, setting the stage for Christian Hallmark’s bloop single over the third baseman. Both Jacob and Miller came around to score on the play, cutting the deficit down to one at 5-6. The frame came to an end on an interference call as Hallmark rounded second base on what would have been an inning-extending dropped popup, but UTSA still headed to the sixth with two runs on the board.
SIXTH INNING
After recording the first two outs of the frame, Kendall Dove’s night was finished on the mound, capping off a 2.2-inning outing with three hits. One Bear did come all the way around after Connor Kelley took over, scoring after a walk was sandwiched by a pair of singles. The hosts took a 7-5 edge into the late night.
EIGHTH INNING
Aidan Eshelman and Jordan both reached with no-out walks before a home miscue juiced the bases. Miller came through with his side’s second sacrifice fly of the night before Detlefsen returned to the batter’s box. With one strike, the senior ripped one through the left side as Ballin took his final 90 feet to even the affair at seven runs apiece. Then, Kelley needed just eight pitches to send the game to the last guaranteed inning.
NINTH INNING
A first-pitch Jacob Silva base knock was followed up by a quick walk to Ballin, placing two runners aboard. Nothing came of the opportunity, however, sending the home bats back out. Following a four-pitch walk, Connor Kelley was relieved by Sam Simmons out of the bullpen. The senior escaped the inning in no time, aided by a dart from catcher Andrew Stucky to gun down a runner. Still deadlocked at seven, the game headed to extra innings.
TWELFTH INNING
With one away, Caden Miller drilled a double to the gap in left-center. A new Baylor pitcher was no cause for pause to Drew Detlefsen, who took the first offering back up the middle for the game’s first run in four frames. After Miller touched home, Lane Haworth walked to place two aboard. Christian Hallmark then ripped his first pitch right back where it came from, belting the pitcher on an infield single to load the bases. Jacob Silva then drew another base on balls, doubling his squad’s advantage at 9-7. An ensuing flyout cued the end of the rally, bringing Baylor back out needing two runs to extend the lengthy bout.
A one-out single brought up Tyce Armstrong, who hit his second home run of the night to tie the game at 9-9. Another hit sent Simmons to the dugout and Gunnar Brown to the mound. A wild pitch advanced the runner to third base before a 3-1 offering was laced into the outfield. The ball dropped just past Christian Hallmark’s outstretched glove, ending the 4-hour, 44-minute game on a walk-off at 10-9.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- UTSA dropped to 11-38 all-time against Baylor, falling to 6-28 on the road.
- The Roadrunners are now 9-8 in true road games this spring.
- In road midweek games, UTSA moved to 3-5 on the campaign.
- The Roadrunners reached extra innings for the third time this year, dropping to 1-2 in such contests.
- In all three extra-inning games, the home side came away victorious.
- Tuesday’s game was UTSA’s first of the season to pass the 10th inning.
- For the second straight outing, the ‘Runners played errorless baseball.
- For the fifth consecutive contest, Jordan Ballin drew at least two walks, tallying three at Baylor.
- Both Ballin and Jacob Silva set individual season highs with three earned walks.
- Drew Detlefsen led the way as the only Roadrunner with three hits on Tuesday, securing two crucial RBIs along the way.
- Caden Miller’s two-double, two-walk day cemented his 17th multi-hit day of the campaign.
- The sophomore also matched his season high with 13 putouts on the night.
- Aidan Eshelman’s six assists established a new career high.
- UTSA left a season-high 16 runners on base in the loss.
- The Navy & Orange have left seven or more runners on base in 14 of their past 17 outings.
- Since March 8, UTSA has 11 losses. More than half (six) have come either by one run or a walk-off.
UP NEXT
After their midweek matchup, the ‘Runners will return home for a conference clash with Charlotte (18-18, 3-9). UTSA looks to secure its first sweep in American play and improve on a 13-4 record in its own ballpark this season. All the action from Roadrunner Field will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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