Jake Mireles

The baseball team celebrates a hard-fought win.

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Jake Mireles

Coach Pat Hallmark speaks with the umpire after disagreeing with the call.

UTSA baseball defeated Florida Atlantic University 7-3 on Saturday at Roadrunner Field. 

After being thrown into a three-run deficit to start the game, the Roadrunners (22-7, 4-1 AAC) clawed back in the middle innings. UTSA scored six unanswered runs in between the fourth and seventh and held the Owls (19-8, 2-3 AAC) scoreless after the third inning. Junior outfielder Drew Detlefsen notched two home runs and four RBIs, including a three-run homer to give UTSA its 6-3 lead late in the seventh. 

“It was a great at-bat,” coach Pat Hallmark said of Detlefsen. “Just tip your hat to Drew; it’s not that easy to do — he was pretty good.”

The game remained at a standstill until the bottom of the seventh inning, where freshman infielder Jordan Ballin hit a single into left field and reached second thanks to a Florida Atlantic throwing error. Following him was freshman utility Nathan Hodge who also singled on a quick bunt which sent Ballin to third with zero outs. After an Owls pitching change, freshman utility Caden Miller stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in Ballin and tying the game at three a piece. 

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Late in the seventh, Detlefsen saw a full pitch count after fouling off three straight pitches. Coming back from 0-2, the outfielder hit a go-ahead three-run home run which brought in N. Hodge and senior outfielder Mason Lytle. The moonshot handed the ‘Runners a 6-3 edge as they headed into the eighth and sealed the victory for the team. 

“I kept fouling off pitches that I saw,” Detlefsen said. “He gave me one up, and I made him pay.”

UTSA broke the scoring mark at the bottom of the fourth when Detlefsen smashed a ball into left field for a solo home run. 

After walking to first at the bottom of the eighth, T. Hodge quickly stole second and advanced to third due to a quick tag up. A single up the middle from N. Hodge brought T. Hodge in to secure the Roadrunners’ final run of the night.

Senior pitcher Braylon Owens got the start on the bump for the ‘Runners. The right-hander tossed four innings, allowing two earned runs and five hits along with four strikeouts. 

The Roadrunners totaled 10 hits and seven RBIs. N. Hodge led the team in hits with three, while Detlefsen led in RBIs with four. 

UTSA will take on Florida Atlantic University in the series finale at 12 p.m. Sunday at Roadrunner Field.