SAN ANTONIO – On Friday, UTSA Baseball (36-18, 17-9) routed UAB by a 19-9 margin in run-rule fashion. The 10-run victory cemented back-to-back American Conference regular-season championships in front of an above-capacity crowd at Roadrunner Field. UTSA secured the No. 1 seed in next week’s American Conference Championship, with its first game being slated for Friday, May 22.
For the ‘Runners, Mike DeBattista (3-3) secured the win in relief, while Konner Keplinger (2-1) was dealt the loss for UAB. UTSA was hot at the dish, as Diego Diaz and Jacob Silva each posted multiple home runs, with Diaz driving in a game-high and season-high six RBIs. Silva logged four RBIs and Caden Miller pitched in with three of his own.
FIRST INNING
Making his standard game two start was Conor Myles on the bump. A pair of one-out home runs were both of the solo variety, handing the Blazers an early 2-0 lead. In the home half, Drew Detlefsen’s knock to left was sandwiched by a pair of walks, loading the bases ahead of Andrew Stucky. The graduate drew his side’s third base on balls to drive in UTSA’s first run. Still with none away, Diego Diaz stepped up and drove the second pitch he faced deep over the wall in right-center for his first grand slam of 2026. The blast flipped the lead to the hosts by a 5-2 margin.
SECOND INNING
After a 1-2-3 frame from Myles, Detlefsen got back to work with a leadoff double. Diaz followed up with a two-out, two-strike drive to opposite field, coming through with his second home run in as many innings. An ensuing flyout capped off the inning, but not before UTSA pulled ahead by five at 7-2.
THIRD INNING
Myles allowed a leadoff walk before a one-out hit drove in UAB’s third run of the evening. A pair of singles in the bottom half went unsupported as UTSA maintained a 7-3 lead through the game’s first third.
FOURTH INNING
The first six Blazers reached safely, with five hits including a home run resulting in a six-run inning. Mike DeBattista took over pitching duties, getting out of the frame with a swinging strikeout down 9-7. A one-out walk to Andrew Stucky set up Jacob Silva’s third at-bat of the night with one aboard. The starting catcher belted one to dead center field, sending it 410 feet to tie the affair at nine runs apiece. Christian Hallmark’s four-pitch walk preluded three straight singles from Aidan Eshelman, Miller and Detlefsen, driving in another three runs as UTSA took the lead right back at 12-9.
FIFTH INNING
UTSA tacked on five more in the fifth, as Stucky walked and Diaz doubled to open the frame. an RBI groundout for Silva pushed Stucky across ahead of a wild pitch that allowed Diaz to dent the plate. The inning continued with a walk for Halmark prompting an RBI single by Aidan Eschelman. From there, Eshelman swiped third and came around on a base knock for Lane Haworth seeing a 17-9 edge.
SIXTH INNING
Silva launched a solo shot in the sixth to increase the advantage to nine, ahead of a Ballin double and a Halmark triple that put UTSA up 19-9 heading into the seventh.
SEVENTH INNING
Simmons trotted out for the final inning, fanning one, and inducing a groundout to put the ‘Runners one out away from a title. A single followed, and Simmons got the last out himself, cementing the run-rule win, as well as UTSA’s second consecutive regular season title.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- The ‘Runners won their fourth regular-season championship in program history, doing so in back-to-back fashion for the second time (2007-08; Southland).
- UTSA improved to 14-8 all-time against UAB, jumping to 5-3 at home.
- Diego Diaz is now one of two Roadrunners with three home runs this week, matching Caden Miller.
- Diego Diaz posted the first two-home run day of his season, bumping his season total to eight.
- Jacob Silva launched two longballs of his own for the first time in his career, marking the first time multiple ‘Runners went deep twice this season.
- Diaz and Silve became the fourth and fifth different Roadrunners with two four-baggers in a game this season, joining Caden Miller (Friday), Lane Haworth (April 28) and Drew Detlefsen (twice).
- The win was UTSA’s third in run-rule fashion against an American foe this season.
UP NEXT
Both sides will clash one last time on Saturday at 11 a.m. for the final installment of the three-game set. UTSA looks to secure its eighth conference series victory and solidify the outright regular-season title. All the action from Roadrunner Field will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
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