CLEARWATER, FL — Top-seeded Texas-San Antonio topped No. 2 East Carolina, 4-2, on Saturday to earn a berth in the American Conference tournament championship on Sunday at noon at BayCare Ballpark.
The Pirates (34-22-1) faced an elimination game later Saturday against No. 7 Wichita State, which outscored No. 4 Alabama-Birmingham 14-12 in an elimination pairing that followed the matchup of the top seeds.
The team that emerged from the Saturday nightcap would oppose UTSA in a one-game showdown for the league tournament title and the corresponding automatic NCAA tournament berth.
The Roadrunners (38-19) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a home run to center field by Drew Detlefsen, the American Player of the Year.
The Pirates closed the second inning with a double play after a fly out as right fielder right fielder Jack Herring threw out a runner trying to tag and score.
ECU tied the score in the third when Grady Lanahan walked, stole second and came home on a single up the middle by Braden Burress.
Andrew Stucky had a fielder’s choice RBI as UTSA went ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the third.
The Pirates tied the score at 2 in the fourth when Lanahan singled to center to bring in Walker Barron.
The Roadrunners got two runs in the fourth on an RBI ground out by Adam Eshelman and a run-scoring single down the right field line by Detlefsen.
ECU had a 6-4 lead in hits as Burress and Barron had two each. Lanahan and Nick Parham also had hits.
UTSA benefited from five walks and seven hit batters.
ECU had multiple flies caught on the warning track.
Luke Payne, Ethan Rose, Charlie Hoagland and Gavin Marley turned in mound stints for the Pirates.
Payne started and went two innings. He allowed one hit and two runs (both earned) with two walks and one strikeout.
Rose went one frame with no hits, one run (earned), one walk and one whiff. Hoagland yielded two hits over two and two-thirds innings. He allowed one run (earned) with one walk and five strikeouts.
Marley’s line for two and one-third innings included one hit and one walk.
Sam Simmons (8-4), who went four and two-thirds innings in relief, was credited with the win. Connor Kelley picked up his second save.
Rose (3-2) was charged with the loss.
When your pitchers issue 5 walks and hit 7 batters, the offense better score a bunch of runs. As has been the case several times this year, the Pirates couldn’t get the hits when they needed them. UTSA didn’t run the Pirates off of the field by any means, but the difference in quality of pitching was apparent. As I tap out this comment, WSU and UAB are tied at 5, middle of the 4th, so if the Pirate can find a couple of arms who can throw strikes, maybe the bats will come alive against whichever depleted pitching staff they face. No need to save anything for tomorrow. Pull out all the stops.