UTSA Baseball Sweeps the LIU Sharks Behind Offensive Slugfest

After a start to the 2025 season that saw UTSA go 1-3 and get shut out twice, the Roadrunners were in dire need of some offense and fast! That need showed up in a big way in what ended up being two double headers against the Sharks from Long Island University. 

With weather affecting South Texas, the four-game series was played across Saturday and Sunday. The Roadrunners were unfazed, sweeping the series while outscoring the Sharks 41-6. It may have been the cleanest weekend across all three phases the ‘Runners have had in a while. 

They now find themselves above .500 for the first time this season and will look to build on the momentum with a rare, two game midweek slate. 

Let’s get into the Full Count Recap! 

STRIKES

Masterful Pitching…

Outside of a four-run inning for Long Island in game one, UTSA did a great job across the weekend shutting down the Sharks’ offense. The four starters logged twenty-two combined innings and only two of the six runs allowed came from the starters. 

The starting pitcher performances were highlighted by senior Braylon Owens who tossed a gem on Saturday in game two. Owens went 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, and 8 Ks! Right behind him was left-handed pitcher Conor Myles. Myles also went 6 IP while allowing only five hits, one walk, zero runs and striking out seven. 

The pitching was a question mark coming into the 2025 season with so many new faces, and the departure of veteran arms. While the record doesn’t paint a perfect picture, it has held up well so far. 

Included with that performance is that of the relievers. Mike DeBattista continues to shine as the newcomer went four scoreless. Kendall Dove and Sam Simmons contributed short but valuable outings. Newcomer Christian Okerholm closed out the series in his first appearance of the season. He struck out two across a scoreless frame. 

It appears that Robert Orloski will fill the stopper role previously held by Simon Miller and Ruger Riojas. Orloski struggled early in his outing but settled in nicely. He was able to earn the win after the Roadrunners picked him up to open the series with a win. 

Offense, Offense, Offense…

Forty-one. That is how many runs UTSA scored in four games. Two of the games they run ruled the Sharks. Three of the games they took to the plate in just six innings. In three of the four games they scored at least three runs in the first inning. They went on a thirteen-inning scoring run across three games. 

It is a small sample size of just four games. At the same time, it is a much needed and encouraging breath of fresh air to see the bats coming alive in a big way this weekend. 

There is absolutely no way to highlight every single contributor from the weekend. It was a team effort in every shape of the way. 

We saw the first grand slam for UTSA from impact freshman Caden Miller. Junior outfielder Tye Odom plated seven across the weekend as he found his bat. Senior center fielder Mason Lytle went 7 for 8 in the Saturday double headers with five RBI’s highlighted by a three-run home run. Ty Hodge and Andrew Detlefsen hit their first home runs as Roadrunners. 

The ‘Runners had been struggling some with their power. They hit five homeruns this weekend. Perhaps modest when you consider they played four games, but with cold and gloomy conditions throughout the weekend it was nice to see the Roadrunners go yard several times.

UTSA showed discipline at the plate, walking fourteen times in the series and not once having a double-digit strikeout game. After having some of those early in the season, they cleaned up their approach at the plate this weekend. 

Defensive help…

The box score doesn’t tell the whole story for the games. The UTSA pitchers got themselves in trouble at multiple points. Helping them out throughout was the Roadrunner defense. Miller had some incredible plays at first base. Norris McClure played well at third despite one error. 

As a team, UTSA cleaned up the fielding after Saturday, giving up no errors in the third and fourth games. Tye Odom made a great throw from right field that saved a run and helped limit the damage from Long Island in game one. 

It wasn’t perfect, as we’ll get to soon. But we certainly are not talking about two shutouts and a series sweep if it wasn’t for some crucial defensive plays. 

BALLS

Missed Opportunities at the plate…

If not for a late comeback in game one, UTSA would have been playing catchup the rest of the weekend. They won a tight series opening game, 6-5. They would end up leaving eleven runners on in that game and went five innings without scoring after jumping out to a three run lead. 

It may seem nitpicky (and it probably is), but when a team wins four games in a row, in the fashion they did it takes some of that to find things to work on. 

On one hand, they are getting guys on. On the other, you need to capitalize on two on or bases loaded with either zero or one out. And credit where credit is due, they brought plenty of guys in this weekend. Remember that forty-one runs scored. 

Baseball is often a game of two sides. It took some incredibly athletic and web-gem plays from the Sharks to keep this one from being even more one-sided.

For now, it will simply be something to keep an eye on. 

Mental Mistakes and Over Aggressiveness…

While it certainly helped the pitching, the defense wasn’t perfect. The Roadrunners did commit four errors in the Saturday double-header. While none of them resulted in runs being scored, some of them seemed like a loss of focus or trying to rush a throw. Both are areas that can be fixed as the season progresses. 

This is still a team that is still building chemistry with each other. There were some opportunities for double plays that the ‘Runners were not able to turn. Like the first “ball” it may be nitpicky. There is room to grow though. 

We’ve seen UTSA be very aggressive on the basepaths this season. Several times, that works out swimmingly for them. At other times, it bites them. Twice this weekend the Roadrunners got doubled up in a F9/out at the plate sequence. 

Early in the season, and with comfortable leads, I’m okay with it. It’s important to see who your good tag runners are, and it always puts pressure on the outfielder and catcher to complete the play. 

There was one play that saw Miller out by a mile at home, although that may have been a miscommunication with him tagging all the way from second. 

Again, work those things out now, and see what speed you have at your disposal.

THE PAY OFF PITCH

It doesn’t happen often, but the Roadrunners will have two midweek games this week. Both games will be at the Bird Bath. They will host the familiar Houston Christian on Tuesday evening and then face off against the Golden Grizzlies from Oakland University on Wednesday. 

This will be the first time that UTSA faces off against Oakland University. The Golden Grizzlies have been doing a baseball tour of the southern United States after facing Jacksonville State, McNeese State, Lamar (on Tuesday) and finally UTSA. 

They have only won one game so far but dropped the three games to McNeese State by one run in each game. And as we all know, midweek games are weird. 

Before facing off against Oakland, it will be the Huskies from Houston Christian. You may remember the Tuesday game from two years ago against HCU. 

The Roadrunners got down big early before clawing back, only to win a barn burner 9-8. Like I said, midweek games are weird. 

I’ll also be curious to see how Coach Hallmark and his staff tackle the pitching roles. It will be the fifth and sixth games for UTSA in five days. If that isn’t enough, it only gives them one full day off before another four-game series. This time against Youngstown State. 

One thing is certain and that is we will get an early look at how the pitching depth is. Another monster offensive output would be wonderful. 

With back to back midweek games, I’ll look to do one combined “Pitch-Count Recap” this week, while hoping to also do a series preview on the Penguins. 

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