UTSA Roadrunners open regional play Friday evening against Kansas State Wildcats.
SAN ANTONIO — My wildcards for the NCAA Regional was whether or not the TCU baseball team would be awarded a regional spot and if Dallas Baptist would be put in the Austin Regional.
That also lead to the question about where UTSA would wind up for the tournament.
And as it turned out- the Austin Regional with both the Horned Frogs and DBU leaving the state to start their own tournaments.
“Proud to stay in Texas and compete against some of the best players in the state,” said Roadrunner Head Coach Patrick Hallmark. “They are full on our roster and on UT’s roster,” he added. “I hope we get to play them, but we have to deal with Kansas State first.”
The Roadrunners open as the second seed in the Austin Regional against the Big12’s Kansas State Wildcats 6 p.m. Friday evening at Disch-Falk Field.
There have obviously been many big teams that have played at ‘The Disch’ in UT – Austin. And the Longhorns themselves have made more CWS appearances than any program in the country at 38. But this weekend UTSA wants to be the team playing in the biggest games – with an opportunity to advance to their first ever Super Regional next week.
But first things first – they need to beat the KSU Wildcats Friday night, a team that has currently hit 92 homeruns.
“I like the way they swing,” Coach Hallmark said. “I won’t like the way they swing on Friday,” he added.
“They also have lots of strikeouts,” said pitcher Braylon Owens. “We’re not worried about the long ball. We’re just worried about giving them multiple pitches,” he added.
And while some of San Antonio is rooting for the Roadrunners, others are, of course, rooting for the Longhorns, and that includes former Brandeis Bronco – now star Longhorn infielder Jalin Flores.
“My high school coaches reached out and wished us good luck,” he said. “He’s (the head coach) a Longhorn by heart, so just knowing he’s supporting me and I’m sure some of those guys will come up here as well.”
KENS 5 also asked Flores if he found it interesting that UTSA is going to the Austin Regional.
“We put ourselves in a good position to host and they put themselves in a good position to be in a regional,” he said. “Props to that team and what they have going on, but we are going to take care of business and do what we can to win.”
UT officials say the midweek storm damage to the centerfield fence is not going to delay the tournament.
Houston Christian versus Texas is still scheduled to start on time at 1 p.m. followed by the Kansas State game against UTSA at 6 p.m. Friday evening.
Vinnie Vinzetta is a sports multimedia journalist and anchor for KENS 5 in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more about his career here.