Caden Miller (34) hit a second-inning home run in UTSA’s second game on Sunday afternoon. The homer was his second in two days and his team-leading third on the season. – Photo by Joe Alexander
By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
After losing three out of four on the road to start the season, the UTSA baseball team rebounded with a focused effort in its first weekend series at home, sweeping four straight games from the Long Island University Sharks.
UTSA started the weekend by beating the Sharks twice on a cold day Saturday and then followed up in warmer conditions Sunday by registering 15-0 and 7-1 victories at Roadrunner Field.
Hitting was the story of the weekend as the home team scored 41 runs, averaged .436 at the plate and smashed five homers.
UTSA’s Drew Detlefsen (12) hit a two-run homer in the first inning in Sunday’s second game. -Photo by Joe Alexander
Two of the homers came off the bat of freshman Caden Miller, who leads the Roadrunners with three on the season.
It was a relief for the Roadrunners to see all the base runners cross the plate, after being shut out twice, once by UT Arlington and once by Baylor, in the opening four games.
In another good sign, the Roadrunners also enjoyed strong performances from its pitching, particularly from its starters.
Zach Royse, Braylon Owens, Conor Myles and newcomer Mike DeBattista yielded only two runs between them in 22 innings combined (for an ERA of 0.82).
Royse struck out seven and allowed two runs in six innings in Saturday’s opener, when the Roadrunners rallied to win, 6-5.
Owens followed by fanning eight in six frames in Saturday’s second game, which was called a 13-0 victory for UTSA after seven innings on the run rule.
Both of Sunday’s games also went seven innings to allow for the visiting team’s travel schedule. Even with a 9 a.m. first pitch Sunday morning, Myles answered the bell and pitched scoreless six frames.
UTSA starting pitcher Mike DeBattista got the win in Sunday’s second game.
He steadied himself after one shaky moment after hitting a batter and went on to keep his earned run average for the season at 0.00.
In the second game of the day, DeBattisa worked four scoreless innings and gave up five hits.
Records
Long Island 2-6
UTSA 5-3
First game
Myles pitched six scoreless and Christian Okerholm worked the seventh on Sunday morning, as UTSA routed the Long Island Sharks, 15-0.
The senior southpaw from Melbourne, Australia, struck out seven as he ran his season-opening scoreless string to 10 and 1/3 innings.
In getting credit for his first victory, Myles (1-0) allowed only five hits — all singles — walked one and hit a couple of batters.
With warmer weather moving in after Saturday’s competition was played in 30-degree temperatures, Tye Odom led the Roadrunners offensively with four of the team’s 19 hits. Odom also matched his career high with five RBI.
Houston Christian transfer Ty Hodge continued his hot streak with three hits and a home run.
Senior Mason Lytle produced a hit in four chances, extending his season-opening batting streak to seven games. In all, UTSA went 19 for 36 at the plate against five Long Island pitchers.
Second game
Drew Detlefsen hit a two-run homer in a four-run first inning and Caden Miller added a solo shot in the second as the Roadrunners won, 7-1, in seven innings to complete the weekend sweep.
For Miller, a freshman from Madisonville, it was the second home run in as many days and his third of the season.
Lorenzo Morresi went two for three, stroked a double and recorded an RBI. Lytle went zero for two at the plate as his season-opening, seven-game hitting streak came to an end.
Katy native Mike Battista (1-0) earned the victory in four scoreless innings. Battista pitched in high school at Katy Tompkins and later at Dodge City Community College.
UTSA season in review
UTSA at UT Arlington, L, 5-0
UTSA at UT Arlington, L, 7-4
UTSA at UT Arlington, W, 6-3
UTSA at Baylor, L, 5-0
Long Island at UTSA, W, 6-5
Long Island at UTSA, W, 13-0
Long Island at UTSA, W, 15-0
Long Island at UTSA, W 7-1
Coming up
Houston Christian at UTSA, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Oakland, Mich., at UTSA, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
UTSA shortstop Ty Hodge gloves a throw on a steal attempt Sunday at Roadrunner Field. The Roadrunners went 4-0 against the Long Island Sharks over the weekend and improved to 5-3 on the season. – Photo by Joe Alexander
