CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Sunday, UTSA Baseball wrapped up its stay at the 2026 American Conference Championship. The Roadrunners fell by a score of 1-0 at the hands of second-seeded East Carolina, dropping the 12th and final game of the tournament. ECU clinched the league’s automatic bid to an NCAA Regional, leaving UTSA (38-20, 17-10) with hopes of earning an at-large bid on Monday.
FIRST INNING
To kick off the title bout, Head Coach Pat Hallmark turned to true freshman Jake Qualia for his fourth start of the campaign. Jordan Ballin was exceptional at second base, retiring all three batters with a popup, lineout and groundout to cap a 1-2-3 frame. In the home half, two free bases with one away went unsupported as both sides entered the second in search of their first hit.
SECOND INNING
After Diego Diaz collided with Aidan Eshelman on a ground ball, Mason Jacob entered the game at third base. With the bases loaded, Lane Haworth made a backpedaling grab to keep multiple runs off the board and bring his offense back out. Ballin reached on an error ahead of an Aidan Eshelman walk, but two more ‘Runners were left stranded to maintain the 0-0 tie.
THIRD INNING
The substituting Jacob kickstarted a 5-4-3 double play to end the frame, keeping the Pirates scoreless. With one away, Lane Haworth tallied the game’s first extra-base hit on a double to left-center. Despite making his way to third on a groundout, an inning-ending punchout left UTSA’s fifth runner on base 90 feet away.
FIFTH INNING
After Christopher Gutierrez retired the final two batters of the fourth, senior Mike DeBattista took over on the mound. An ensuing leadoff single was then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two away, a single bounced towards Drew Detlefsen as the lead runner raced home. The reigning American Conference Player of the Year laid out to deliver a missile to Andrew Stucky, who applied a tag just in time to keep ECU off the scoreboard.
SIXTH INNING
The first three pitches of the top half each went for singles, bringing in a Pirate for the affair’s first and only score. Yet again, a walking Jacob Silva was advanced to third on a pair of outs. UTSA remained unable to drive in a run of its own, heading to the game’s final third trailing by one.
EIGHTH INNING
DeBattista remained steady on the mound, striking out his fourth Pirate of the day in his second straight 1-2-3 inning. After allowing a walk, ECU’s Ethan Norby was relieved of his pitching duties with one away. A pair of strikeouts and a flyout left the ninth ‘Runner of the day aboard as the league’s second seed retained its slim lead.
NINTH INNING
Despite Ballin’s best efforts across a 12-pitch at-bat, UTSA went down in order on a trio of flyouts in the final frame. The final pitch of the afternoon was lifted high to right field, with the game-sealing grab clinching ECU its second straight American Conference Championship by a margin of 1-0.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- UTSA dropped to 8-6 all-time against East Carolina, falling to 2-1 in neutral contests.
- The ‘Runners fell to 4-5 in American Conference tournament games since joining the league in 2024.
- Sunday’s bout was UTSA’s seventh in a conference tournament finale, dropping the program to 3-4 in such games all-time.
- The loss was UTSA’s first this season in a neutral game, sliding to 5-1 on the year.
- For the 19th time in their past 23 games, the Roadrunners left at least eight men on base, stranding nine on Sunday.
- Zero ‘Runners notched multiple hits on Sunday as they tallied just four total.
- Mike DeBattista tossed a team-high 4.0 innings, matching his season high with four strikeouts.
- The senior was one batter and one out shy of his 2026 personal bests for innings pitched (4.1) and batters faced (18).
- Christopher Gutierrez extended his program record with a 34th appearance on the campaign, retiring both batters he faced.
- Jake Qualia’s 3.1 innings of scoreless work came with one strikeout while he dropped his season ERA to 4.60.
- Sam Simmons struck out two of the three batters he faced, dipping his 2026 ERA to 2.39.
UP NEXT
UTSA will await its fate during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, May 25. The full 64-team postseason field will be revealed on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CT. NCAA Regional play will begin on Friday, May 29, with 16 sites each hosting a four-team, double-elimination bracket. Pat Hallmark’s squad looks to make its second straight Super Regionals appearance and ultimately advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., which commences on June 12 from Charles Schwab Field.
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