HOUSTON – UTSA Baseball pummeled Rice on Saturday, drubbing the Owls 13-0 in a seven-inning affair. The visitors shut out the hosts for the second straight day, securing their 14th consecutive American Conference series victory. Two Roadrunners mashed home runs, matching the hit total for Rice. Four straight multi-run innings were aided by three Owl errors as UTSA improved to 22-10 on the season with a 6-3 mark in league play.
FIRST INNING
Drew Detlefsen stayed hot to open things up with a single, preluding a pair of patient walks to Lane Haworth and Andrew Stucky. Nothing came of the bases-loaded opportunity, however, bringing out Christian Okerholm for his fourth start on the mound this spring. Despite allowing a walk, the senior retired all three batters, capping off the frame with a double play from Caden Miller to Aidan Eshelman.
SECOND INNING
Three straight hits to lead off the inning prompted a pitching change with Aidan Eshelman and Jordan Ballin still on base. The visitors failed to score after the swap, striking out and grounding out to end the frame. Okerholm remained solid in the early stages, holding the hosts scoreless with another 1-2-3 frame.
THIRD INNING
Both sides walked twice in the third but failed to drive in the game’s first score. In the bottom half, Christopher Gutierrez took over for his second straight day on the mound. The freshman struck out one batter and exited the inning unscathed as the game remained 0-0.
FOURTH INNING
Aidan Eshelman singled for the second time before Ballin walked. Just two pitches later, Caden Miller ripped an RBI ground rule double for the contest’s first score before Drew Detlefsen notched a sacrifice fly on the next offering. Holding a 2-0 edge, Gutierrez utilized another double play to complete a frame of just three at-bats.
FIFTH INNING
The Roadrunners’ best offensive inning of the series began with two quick outs. Christian Hallmark then uncorked one to right field, belting a home run on the field his father, Head Coach Pat Hallmark, used to call home. Eshelman then reached on an error that extended the frame for Ballin, who landed a run-scoring single to left field. A walk and a wild pitch plated another run before Detlefsen stepped up to bat. The senior sent the second pitch towering over the left-field wall, scoring Caden Miller and himself to cap a five-run frame. In the home half, Kendall Dove trotted out of the bullpen, quickly recording the final two outs of the fifth.
SIXTH INNING
The first pitch to Andrew Stucky got down for a single ahead of pinch-hitting Garrett Gruell being struck. A Christian Hallmark walk loaded the bases before a walk and an error opened up a 9-0 lead. Caden Miller then sent the game into run-rule territory with a first-pitch, two-RBI knock. On the mound, Dove forced a popup and two groundouts for another quiet Rice stanza to hold an 11-run edge.
SEVENTH INNING
After another pair of outs to start the inning, Christian Hallmark landed a perfect bunt for an infield hit. Then, middle-infield teammates Eshelman and Ballin were both struck by pitches, juicing the bases once again for Miller. The first baseman brought Hallmark and Eshelman all the way in with his third hit, securing the game’s final score of 13-0. After Dove’s first punchout, Miller secured the final two popouts of the game for UTSA’s second straight shutout.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- UTSA improved to 27-31 all-time against Rice, climbing to 14-22 on the road.
- The ‘Runners are now 8-7 in true road games this spring.
- The Navy & Orange dished out their third shutout of the season, doing so for the second consecutive day.
- UTSA last dealt back-to-back shutouts on Feb. 22-23, 2025, toppling Long Island by 13-0 and 15-0 margins in consecutive seven-inning games.
- The last time UTSA shut out an opponent twice in the same road series was in 2008, when the ‘Runners took down Southeastern Louisiana 3-0 and 4-0 on April 4-5.
- After tying their season-low for hits allowed (three) on Friday, UTSA set a new mark on Saturday, allowing just two Owl base knocks.
- The visitors were awarded 13 free bases, with 10 coming via walks and three on hit batters.
- Caden Miller became the first Roadrunner with a five-RBI outing this season, pacing the ‘Runners with three hits.
- Christian Hallmark matched Miller atop the team leaderboard with three hits, tying his individual season high.
- Drew Detlefsen was the final visitor with three hits on the day, tallying three RBIs to boost his season total of 39.
- Jordan Ballin’s two-hit day was his first since Feb. 17 against UIC, adding a walk while being hit by a pitch to tally an RBI and two runs scored.
- Aidan Eshelman notched his second career two-hit day in the series finale, scoring a career-high four runs with a pair of free trips to first.
- The Roadrunners hit multiple home runs for the 13th time this season, improving to 9-4 when doing so.
- Christian Hallmark’s four-bagger was his first since March 11 at Texas Tech, notching his fourth this year.
- Drew Detlefsen’s ensuing home run marked his 11th of the campaign, expanding his team lead.
- Christian Okerholm, Christopher Gutierrez and Kendall Dove were the only three Roadrunners to pitch in the shutout.
- No member of the trio tossed three complete frames, with Dove’s 2.2 innings of work leading the way.
- The ‘Runners needed just 89 pitches (including 50 strikes) to take down Rice on Saturday.
UP NEXT
After their series at Rice, the ‘Runners will travel to Tarleton State (21-9) on Tuesday, April 7, at 4 p.m. UTSA looks to improve on its 2-4 mark in midweek road games while the hosts hope to build on their 10-4 record in Stephenville. All the action between the Roadrunners and Texans will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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