UTSA baseball pitcher Mike DeBattista in the Roadrunners’ 15-11 loss to Texas-Arlington Friday, March 13, 2026, at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas.

SAN ANTONIO — No. 24 UTSA baseball suffered its first home loss of the season to the University of Texas at Arlington 15-11 on Friday at Roadrunner Field. 

After facing an early 6-0 deficit, the Roadrunners (14-4) clawed their way back into the game and cut the Mavericks’ (6-11) lead down to two runs in the fourth. In the next inning, Texas-Arlington loaded the bags with two outs. UTSA coach Pat Hallmark brought in senior Mike DeBattista to secure the final out, but DeBattista surrendered a brutal grand slam to Mavericks outfielder Xander McAfee. The Roadrunners scored six in the bottom of the ninth and brought the game within four, but sophomore utility Caden Miller struck out with the bases loaded, delivering a crushing finish to the Roadrunners’ disastrous night. 

“We didn’t throw strikes — embarrassing,” Pat Hallmark said after the game. 

The Mavericks led by six following the top of the second. Sophomore utility Jacob Silva put UTSA on the board in the bottom of the inning with a ground out to Mavericks infielder Xavier Melendez, scoring junior infielder Diego Diaz from third. In the fourth, an RBI double from sophomore outfielder Christian Hallmark and Silva’s second RBI of the night brought UTSA within two. 

With two outs in the fifth and a runner on first, sophomore pitcher Blayne Lyne issued a walk and then hit a batter to load the bases. DeBattista checked in and walked the next batter, before giving up the grand slam to McAfee. 

“I thought he competed well,” Pat Hallmark said of Lyne. “He gave everything he had. He got a little tired, and that hurt us there in [his] last inning. I was probably late [pulling him]. I didn’t coach perfect baseball, obviously. You lose like that, [it means] the coaches are doing a poor job, so I probably left him in there a little too long.” 

Despite facing a 10-run hole, the Roadrunners did not go down without a fight. RBIs from Miller, Silva, senior catcher Broc Parmer, junior outfielder Lane Haworth and sophomore infielder Jordan Ballin gave the few remaining fans at Roadrunner Field some hope. 

“We don’t give up. We go up there and compete with the bat,” Pat Hallmark said. “I’m sure [Texas-Arlington coach Mike Trapasso] was trying to save guys, but the lefty they brought in is one of their main guys. He’s their main lefty, so we competed and made them use one of their arms.” 

UTSA’s comeback fell short, and the Roadrunners lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. 

Game two of UTSA v. Texas-Arlington is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roadrunner Field.