SAN ANTONIO – Tuesday night’s clash between San Antonio’s two Division I programs was an offensive onslaught from the jump. Incarnate Word seemed destined for a rivalry road win, pulling ahead 8-2 with four early home runs. UTSA answered with a jaw-dropping 14 runs in the fifth inning en route to a 22-10, run-rule victoEry over its in-city foe. The win was the Roadrunners’ 30th of the season, securing their fifth straight campaign with at least 30.
FIRST INNING
Cody Demont got to work in his first start as a Roadrunner, accepting the nod from Head Coach Pat Hallmark. The visitors notched a trio of home runs, capitalizing on an error to secure a five-run first inning. When the hosts took to the plate, Caden Miller was struck before Drew Detlefsen ripped a double of the top of the wall. Lane Haworth’s groundout and Jacob Silva’s first-pitch sacrifice fly both drove in runs, pulling the ‘Runners within three at 5-2.
SECOND INNING
With Ryan Self taking over on the mound, the Cardinals got back to work. A leadoff walk was followed up by UIW’s fourth home run of the night. Two more hits preceded a sacrifice fly, swelling the lead to a half dozen at 8-2.
THIRD INNING
Lane Haworth sent the second pitch of the inning over the right-field wall for a solo home run, pulling back within five. Over the ensuing seven batters, five tallied singles. A trio of Roadrunners came around to score behind Haworth, cutting the deficit to two at 8-6.
FIFTH INNING
Two doubles helped as many Cardinals score in the top half, bringing Sam Simmons out of the bullpen with one away. A successful pickoff got the senior out of the frame, bringing out his offense for a historic trip to the plate.
The first offering of the fifth went for a home run off Josh Arquette’s bat. The next four batters all reached with a trio of singles and an error on a sacrifice bunt. A pitching change preluded a pair of free bases to Detlefsen and Haworth, tying the game at 10-10 with a bases-loaded walk. The night’s second catcher’s interference call brought in another run before Arquette made his second trip to the plate with just one away. The third baseman ripped a double down the left-field line, emptying the bases and pulling ahead by four.
Ballin then sent his fellow infielder home on a single, bringing out UIW’s third pitcher of the inning. Cade Sadler paid no mind, sending a single back up the middle ahead of a walking Aidan Eshelman. Caden Miller’s groundout plated Ballin before a two-run knock from Detlefsen. The very next pitch went to Haworth as the junior skied one deep to right for his second home run of the night and the second four-bagger of the stanza. When the dust settled one batter later, a staggering 14 runs had come around. UTSA flipped a deficit of four into a 20-10 edge, entering run-rule territory.
SIXTH INNING
After Simmons kept the visitors quiet, Ballin reached on his fourth hit of the night. Then, Cade Sadler notched a home run of his own, expanding the lead to 22-10 with a towering 394-foot blast to left. No further damage came to bear, giving UIW three outs to avoid the run-rule defeat.
SEVENTH INNING
Simmons struck out the first batter of the frame looking before a Cardinal substituted to pinch hit. The senior sat him down swinging on three pitches before Christopher Gutierrez came in for the final batter of the night. The freshman needed eight pitches to end an extended at-bat via a looking punchout. Gutierrez capped off a 22-10 win, granting the ‘Runners their fourth win in run-rule fashion.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- UTSA improved to 21-14 all-time against Incarnate Word, jumping to 14-7 at home.
- For just the fifth time in their past 24 games, the ‘Runners stranded fewer than seven men on base.
- Every Roadrunner scored at least one run on Tuesday, with eight scoring at least twice.
- Every ‘Runner landed at least one hit, with eight notching at least a pair.
- For the fourth straight game, the ‘Runners posted an inning with at least five runs, notching 14 in the fifth.
- UTSA’s 20 hits were its most since notching 25 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 11, 2023.
- The hosts’ 22 runs were their most in more than a year, last surpassing the total on April 19, 2025 at Tulane (25).
- Their 20 RBIs were their most since the same game, when they racked up 25 against the Green Wave.
- The Navy & Orange posted 43 total bases on Tuesday, marking their highest total since an even 50 versus the Islanders (March 11, 2023).
- Pat Hallmark’s bunch improved to 5-4 when drawing fewer than four walks this season.
- UTSA’s 14-run fifth frame was their first with at least 10 runs since April 29, 2025 at Texas State.
- Jordan Ballin’s four-hit day doubled his individual season high and led the team on Tuesday.
- The second baseman also led the way with four runs scored, marking a 2026 best.
- Josh Arquette tied Lane Haworth atop the team leaderboard with five RBIs, both notching season highs.
- The left fielder’s two-home run day was his first as a Roadrunner, bringing his season total up to eight.
- UTSA tallied four home runs, falling one shy of its 2026 high (five versus No. 9 Coastal Carolina).
- Cade Sadler went deep for the second time in 72 hours after his first home run as a Roadrunner came via a Saturday grand slam.
- With 2.1 scoreless innings and three punchouts, Sam Simmons picked up the victory as the pitcher of record during the fifth frame.
- Simmons (7-3) notched his seventh win of the campaign, tying Conor Myles to pace the squad.
UP NEXT
This weekend, UTSA welcomes Wichita State for a crucial late-season American Conference series. The ‘Runners (12-6 AMER) look to secure their first sweep in league play and improve on a 16-5 home record. Meanwhile, the Shockers (10-8 AMER) hope to make a push towards the top of the conference leaderboard with three weeks remaining in the campaign. All the action from Roadrunner Field will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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