Rylan Renteria

UTSA infielder Aidan Eschelman after the Roadrunners’ 1-0 loss to East Carolina Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Baycare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — UTSA baseball was shut out by East Carolina University 1-0 on Sunday at Baycare Ballpark in the American Conference tournament championship game. 

Freshman pitcher Jake Qualia opened up the game on the mound for the Roadrunners (38-20) and held the Pirates (36-22-1) scoreless throughout the duration of his appearance. Luckily for East Carolina, UTSA could not break through against pitchers Brett Antolick and Ethan Norby, the latter being named Most Outstanding Player for his efforts. The Roadrunners had multiple opportunities to tie the game or take the lead. Instead, UTSA hit 0-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base. East Carolina scored its lone run against Mike DeBattista in the sixth, and that was enough to secure its second-straight tournament championship. 

“[DeBattista] was great,” coach Pat Hallmark said after the game. “We played terrific baseball. Mike D was as good as he’s ever been. It’s just baseball. I feel bad for the players. I’m just happy I get to come back next year.” 

After Qualia’s appearance, freshman pitcher Christopher Gutierrez checked in and forced the final two outs of the fourth inning. DeBattista started the fifth for UTSA, forcing a groundout before senior outfielder Drew Detlefsen gunned down Pirates catcher Walker Barron at home, denying what would’ve been East Carolina’s first run of the day. 

Detlefsen’s rope to home only delayed the Roadrunners’ fate by an inning as East Carolina infielder Colby Wallace hit the go-ahead RBI single into left the next inning. DeBattista lasted into the ninth, but a leadoff walk forced Hallmark to the pen, signaling for senior stopper Sam Simmons to close out the game. 

Simmons did his job and struck out two to keep the Roadrunners’ deficit at one heading into their final three outs. 

Sophomore infielder Jordan Ballin battled with Pirates closer Charlie Hoagland before eventually lining out to left field. Senior outfielder Brandon Bishop and freshman infielder Aidan Eschelman suffered similar fates, and UTSA suffered its first loss of the tournament in the championship. 

“It was a good baseball game. You could say we deserve a different fate, maybe, but deserve has nothing to do with it,” Hallmark said. “East Carolina played a tiny bit better than we did.” 

As a team, UTSA finished with four hits. The Roadrunners’ rotation allowed eight hits, one earned run and dished out seven strikeouts. Detlefsen, sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark and junior pitcher Connor Kelley were named to the American Conference All-Tournament Team for their efforts across the weekend. 

UTSA’s season hangs in the balance as the team must receive an at-large bid to make its second-straight NCAA Tournament. The selection show begins at 11 a.m. CST Monday on ESPN2.