SAN ANTONIO — Despite losing junior starting pitcher Robert Orloski to injury in the first inning, UTSA baseball persevered and defeated South Dakota State University 17-4 on Friday at Roadrunner Field.
After giving up one run in the top of the first, Orloski tossed a wild pitch and instantly dropped to the ground. Roadrunner Field fell silent as the ‘Runners’ (1-0) ace clutched his arm in pain on the mound. UTSA finished out the inning and proceeded to score 17 runs across the remainder of the game, thrashing the Jackrabbits (0-1) on Opening Day. Orloski’s status going forward remains uncertain, as coach Pat Hallmark was unable to provide an update on his ace after the game.
“I don’t know much about [the injury],” Hallmark said. “They’re checking him out and we’ll see where we go from here.”
Sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark opened up UTSA’s scoring on the year by slicing an RBI double into center field. In the second, sophomore infielder Josh Arquette launched the Roadrunners’ first home run of the season 377 feet over the left field wall and kicked off a seven-run inning for UTSA.
“I was just feeling good up there, confident in all the work we put in and was just enjoying the game,” Arquette said after the game.
Senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen brought in two with an RBI in right-center field; junior outfielder Lane Haworth and freshman outfielder Nathan Johnson followed suit with a pair of RBI singles shortly after.
C. Hallmark knocked a bunt into shallow infield for his third RBI of the night before Arquette closed out the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Johnson.
In the third, senior catcher Andrew Stucky registered UTSA’s second home run of the night — 394 feet over the left field wall. The Roadrunners topped off the game by adding five runs in the final three innings.
Sophomore utility Caden Miller led in hits with three, while Stucky tied C. Hallmark for the RBI lead with three. The Roadrunner rotation — consisting of Orloski, seniors Mike DeBattista and Christian Okerholm and freshmen Ryan Self and Christopher Gutierrez — allowed four runs on nine hits while tossing six strikeouts.
Game two of UTSA versus South Dakota State is set for noon Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
