American Conference/Ben Solomon

No. 1 UTSA Advances To Title Game With 4-2 Win Over No. 2 ECU At 2026 American Baseball Championship

05.23.26

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Top-seeded UTSA’s two-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning provided the difference in a 4-2 win over No. 2 seed East Carolina to open the fourth day of the 2026 American Baseball Championship on Saturday at BayCare Ballpark.

The Roadrunners (38-19) advanced to their first championship game as a member of the American and will face off on Sunday against the winner of defending champion ECU (34-22-1) and either Wichita State or UAB, depending on who matches up with ECU to decide the second championship berth following Saturday’s first elimination game.

Following a scoreless top of the first inning for ECU, American Player of the Year Drew Detlefsen wasted little time in getting UTSA on the board in the bottom half. Detlefsen sent the first pitch he saw over the wall in left center field for his 14th home run of the season, catapulting the Roadrunners ahead 1-0.

ECU pushed the tying run across in the top of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. Grady Lenahan drew a one-out walk and took second base on a successful steal. Braden Burress logged the two-out RBI with a base hit to center, bringing Lenahan around to even the score.

After ECU tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single to center with two outs by Lenahan (2-2), UTSA took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. An RBI groundout by Aidan Eshelman scored Broc Parmer from third base to give the Roadrunners a 3-2 advantage before Detlefsen deposited a two-out RBI single down the right field line to score Jordan Ballin and cap the scoring at 4-2.

Sam Simmons (8-4) threw 4.2 innings of four-hit relief out of the UTSA bullpen, allowing an earned run while striking out three batters to earn the win. Pitching for the second straight day, Connor Kelley spun 1.2 innings of perfect baseball with four strikeouts for his second save of the weekend.

Ethan Rose (3-2) registered the loss in relief for ECU despite not allowing a hit in his inning of relief work, walking one batter and hitting another to surrender the winning earned run.