SAN ANTONIO — Junior infielder Diego Diaz and sophomore utility Jacob Silva hit two home runs each in UTSA baseball’s 19-9 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Friday at Roadrunner Field.
After giving up two solo shots in the top half of the first inning, Diaz hammered a grand slam into deep right field, propelling the Roadrunners (36-18, 17-9 American) to a 5-2 lead. The Blazers (30-24, 14-12 American) scored seven runs across the third and fourth to retake the lead, but UTSA responded accordingly, tacking on 10 runs in two innings. Senior stopper Sam Simmons entered the game with an eight-run lead and held Alabama-Birmingham scoreless as the Roadrunners cruised to their second American Conference regular season title in two years.
“Championships are really hard to win, especially when other people in the [American] have more resources,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “I’m just blessed. I’ve got a group of tough sons of (b……) playing for me.”
UTSA’s first-inning five-spot began with a bases-loaded walk from graduate catcher Andrew Stucky. Diaz cleared the bags in the next at-bat with his grand slam; he added two more in the second with a two-run home run into deep left field.
“[I] was seeing it well,” Diaz explained. “The whole team hit really well.”
The Blazers put up a six-spot in the fourth but would be shut out the rest of the way as UTSA continued to pile on.
Silva opened up the fourth with a two-run home run. Sophomore utility Caden Miller followed with a two-RBI single into right field before senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen closed out the inning with an RBI single of his own.
The fifth was more of the same story for the Roadrunners. Silva and Diaz added two runs with an RBI groundout and a score on a wild pitch, respectively. Shortly after, freshman infielder Aidan Eschelman picked up his lone RBI of the night. Miller and junior outfielder Lane Haworth capped off the inning with a pair of RBI singles.
Leading by eight, Silva’s second home run and an RBI triple from sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark added some insurance.
Graduate pitcher Conor Myles, who has arguably been the Roadrunners’ best pitcher all season, got roughed up by the Blazers during his appearance. Senior pitcher Mike DeBattista stepped up in Myles’ place, allowing just one hit, zero runs and throwing two strikeouts across 1.1 innings pitched en route to his third win of the season.
The Roadrunners have earned their share of the American Conference regular-season title, but can be outright champions with a rubber match win over Alabama-Birmingham at 11 a.m. Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
