SAN ANTONIO – On Thursday, UTSA Baseball hosted UAB for the first installment of a three-game regular-season finale. The Roadrunners fell behind early before a quartet of home runs helped push them back in front. A two-run blast from the Blazers (30-23, 14-11) gave them a lead of their own that they never relinquished. Caden Miller’s explosive day at the plate was not enough to mount a comeback as the Navy & Orange (35-18, 16-9) fell by a 7-6 final score.
FIRST INNING
Senior Gunnar Brown earned the nod from Head Coach Pat Hallmark, making his sixth straight series-opening start. The right-handed pitcher mowed down the first two batters he faced with a pair of strikeouts as both sides went down 1-2-3 in the weekend’s first frame.
SECOND INNING
Three of the first four Blazers tallied hits, including a two-RBI single up the middle for the first runs of the series. An infield miscue ensued before another two-score knock through the left side doubled the lead. With a strikeout and a groundout, Brown got out of the inning as UAB pulled ahead 4-0. In the bottom half, Diego Diaz ripped a one-out pitch just over the right-field wall, cutting the lead to three with his sixth home run of 2026.
THIRD INNING
Two walks sandwiched a hit as UAB amassed a bases-loaded jam with just one away. With another two-strikeout stanza, Brown sent his batters back to the plate before any runs came across. Aidan Eshelman’s one-out single set up Caden Miller, who worked the count full. The sophomore sent the payoff pitch deep to right field, over an outstretched Blazer glove for his eighth home run of the campaign. After Drew Detlefsen ripped a single through the left side, Andrew Stucky belted his first offering well over the wall in right-center. The catcher’s 387-foot blast was his 11th of the year and granted UTSA its first lead at 5-4.
FOURTH INNING
Following a leadoff walk, UAB took back the lead with a two-RBI home run. Connor Kelley then made his way out of the bullpen, escaping the inning with a strikeout and a flyout. The Blazers pulled back in front by a score of 6-5 and the hosts failed to answer in the home half.
SIXTH INNING
On the first offering of the frame, UAB went deep once again, doubling its lead to two. A hit batter was no issue as the runner was not drove in. When the home offense came back out, just nine pitches were enough to retire the side in order as the game’s final third began with a 7-5 mark on the scoreboard.
EIGHTH INNING
Two strikeouts from Kelley preluded a first-pitch flyout that sent UTSA back to the plate. Caden Miller came up big with his second home run of the night, ripping a one-out offering over the wall in right to draw back within one at 7-6. No further damage was done as the ‘Runners headed to the ninth in search of their second win this season when trailing after eight.
NINTH INNING
Kelley’s fifth pitch of the frame went straight to Lane Haworth, who doubled off the runner at second base for an inning-ending double play. Despite Josh Arquette’s fly ball finding the left-field grass on a Blazer miscommunication, UTSA failed to capitalize on the opportunity, suffering its fifth one-run loss of the season.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- UTSA dropped to 13-8 all-time against UAB, falling to 4-3 at home.
- After stranding 43 runners on base across their past four games, UTSA left just one aboard on Thursday, coming on the final at-bat.
- Connor Kelley finished out the last 5.2 innings of the contest, allowing just one run on three hits with a trio of strikeouts.
- Christopher Gutierrez tied the UTSA program record with his 31st appearance this season.
- The freshman became the fourth Roadrunner with 31 outings in a single campaign, doing so for the first time since Bradley Griggs in 2019.
- The previous program record for a freshman was 27 showings from Zach Calhoon in 2007. With one more appearance, Gutierrez will stand alone atop the program leaderboard regardless of class.
- Caden Miller’s two-knock day was his 25th multi-hit outing of 2026, pulling within one of Drew Detlefsen for the team lead.
- Gunnar Brown matched his season high with five strikeouts across a 3.1-inning outing.
- Caden Miller’s two-home run day was his first of the season, boosting his total to nine in 2026.
- Already mashing a two-run shot on Tuesday, the sophomore now has three home runs this week.
- Of UTSA’s nine conference losses, five have come by a combined seven runs.
- After tallying 14 free trips to first base on Tuesday, UTSA was not hit and walked just once on Thursday.
- One free pass was the fewest by Hallmark’s club this spring.
- Just three ‘Runners tallied RBIs in the loss. Miller led the way with two ahead of Stucky (two) and Arquette (one).
- All six runs on the night for the hosts came courtesy of the long ball.
- UTSA suffered its first loss with four home runs this year, falling to 3-1 in such games.
- For the 11th time this spring, the Navy & Orange failed to draw four walks, dropping to 5-6 in such outings.
UP NEXT
Both sides will meet once again on Friday at 6 p.m. for the midpoint of the three-game set. UTSA looks to secure a regular-season American Conference championship and force a Saturday rubber match. All the action from Roadrunner Field will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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