SAN ANTONIO – On Friday, UTSA Baseball returns to Roadrunner Field for a three-game weekend set against Charlotte. The ‘Runners (8-4) look to clinch their 16th straight American series win and extend a streak dating back to May 2024. Meanwhile, the 49ers (3-9) hope to snap an eight-game skid and climb their way back into postseason contention.
WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Charlotte (18-18, 3-9 AMER) at [RV] UTSA (25-12, 8-4 AMER)
When: Friday, April 17 (6 p.m.) | Saturday, April 18 (2 p.m.) | Sunday, April 19 (11 a.m.)
Where: Roadrunner Field – San Antonio, Texas
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Stream: ESPN+
Broadcast Crew: Jordy Fee-Platt & Mike Capps
LAST TIME OUT
On Tuesday, UTSA visited Baylor in their longest game of the season. The 12-inning, nearly five-hour affair saw the visitors take a two-run lead in the top half of the final frame. When Baylor came back up, a game-tying home run preluded an eventual walk-off single, handing the Bears a 10-9 win. In total, 16 total Roadrunners were left on base as they suffered their third walk-off defeat in 15 days.
FLOODING THE BIRD BATH
The Navy & Orange faithful have made their support clear at Roadrunner Field as of late. Earlier this season, UTSA set single-series attendance records in three straight home weekends, establishing new highs against Dallas Baptist (3,048), UT Arlington (3,182) and East Carolina (3,371).
The series win over the Pirates was the first in the ballpark’s 34-year history with an average attendance over 1,100 per game. In nearly half of their home contests this season (seven of 17), the Roadrunners have played in front of crowds larger than listed capacity (1,000).
LOOKIN’ FINE, 99
On Monday, Connor Kelley was named to the American Conference Player of the Week Honorable Mention list. The junior tossed 6.1 shutout innings across two outings against USF and Tarleton State, allowing just three hits. He tossed the last 5.0 innings of the series opener against USF, retiring 15 of 17 batters faced in his win out of the bullpen.
THE BATS ARE HOT
UTSA ranks inside the nation’s top 30 with 386 hits (22nd), a .427 on-base percentage (17th), 322 total runs scored (16th), 29 sacrifice flies (third) and 8.7 runs per game (17th).
In 17 of 37 games this season, UTSA has scored at least 10 runs. The group is averaging more than a score per frame, plating 322 runners in 318.1 innings of work. The Roadrunners have hit multiple home runs in nearly 40% of their outings, doing so 14 times this spring.
ABOUT THE 49ERS
Charlotte is under the direction of seventh-year Head Coach Robert Woodard, who holds a 199-153 record in his time with the program. The 49ers got out to a hot start, but have dropped eight straight games heading into the weekend. Last weekend, they suffered a home sweep at the hands of Rice, dropping to last place in the American standings at 3-9. Woodard’s offense has thrived, though, posting the conference’s third-best batting average (.303) and slugging percentage (.475).
UP NEXT
Following their series against Charlotte, the ‘Runners will trek to College Station for a matchup at Texas A&M. The Aggies will host the Tuesday bout at 3 p.m. CT as UTSA eyes its fourth Power Four win of the season. All the action from Blue Bell Park will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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