AUSTIN – Entering the program’s first NCAA Regional since 2013, the UTSA Baseball team arrived in Austin on Thursday filled with confidence and gratitude as it prepares to face Kansas State in the opener, set for Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
The Roadrunners made the 83-mile drive by bus Thursday morning before participating in a pre-tournament press conference and an hour-long practice at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. In the midst of the best season in school history, marked by 44 wins, the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and a plethora of records and milestones, UTSA isn’t taking anything for granted.
Four consecutive 30-plus-win seasons and consistent talk of NCAA Regional appearances hasn’t always gone UTSA’s way when it came to the postseason. The current team appreciates every moment of the opportunity they have before them.
“We’re extremely grateful to be here,” said Mason Lytle, the 2025 AAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, acknowledging the diligence of the team’s four-year seniors, including pitcher Braylon Owens who accompanied him to the press conference. “Braylon’s been here for four years; they’ve been working hard to get here. We’re grateful to finally be the team to crack through.”
Lytle’s list of accomplishments during his two seasons at UTSA is lengthy and he begins regional play ranked ninth in the nation in hits and 18th in runs scored. But his focus has always been about the success of his team, which boasts a lineup that can cause problems for opponents from the top to the bottom and everywhere in between.
“Obviously that stuff’s cool, but it’s a testament to the work we put in as a team and the batters that I have around me that allow me to have the success that I get to have,” Lytle said. “It’s a testament to the coaching staff and everybody on the team. I’m grateful to have those honors but, at the end of the day, it’s just team baseball.”
While Lytle’s humility is representative of the way each of his teammates approach the game, there’s no doubt it that the Roadrunners are a highly confident squad. UTSA is one of just four non-Power 4 institutions to earn an at-large bid to this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Roadrunners made that possible with a highly impressive resume that includes winning 23 of 27 conference games and road wins at Dallas Baptist, Texas and Texas A&M. Thirteen of the team’s victories have come with UTSA either tied or trailing after six innings.
“It’s hard to quantify it numerically, but these guys believe in themselves,” said UTSA head coach Pat Hallmark, the 2025 AAC Coach of the Year. “At 44 wins, you don’t win that many games without beating some really good people in the process and having confidence.”
Facing the Wildcats
UTSA’s first opponent at the NCAA Austin Regional is Kansas State, which holds an overall record of 31-24 and finished sixth in the 14-team Big 12 Conference with a league mark of 17-13. The Wildcats are making their sixth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and second consecutive.
Like the Roadrunners, Kansas State is known for its dynamic offense. While UTSA can score in a variety of ways and ranks in the top-20 nationally in batting average, hits, on-base percentage and runs scored, the Wildcats lean more on a power hitting game.
K-State is 24th nationally and second in the Big 12 in home runs with 92 on the year. Both squads are among the top-55 nationally in doubles, with UTSA ranking 21st (125) and Kansas State 53rd (115).
“The first thing that jumps out at you when you first pull up the stats is the 92 homers,” Hallmark said. “They can hit the long ball and they try to hit the long ball. They’re swinging off their back leg. I like the way they swing. I won’t like the way they swing Friday because they take a dangerous pass, which is what we try to do and what we hope we do. They’re trained well.”
The Wildcats will throw left-hander Jacob Frost (1-4, 5.75 ERA) to oppose the Roadrunners’ right-hander Zach Royce (8-4, 5.38 ERA).
“They have some stuff on the mound,” Hallmark said. “Frost will run it up to 94, 95 regularly. He’s a pro prospect. They’ve got four guys in the pen who are all touching 95 too. It’s not a surprise – they’re a Power 4 team and it’s what you typically see from the Power 4 teams. But the talent’s there. They’re well coached.”
UTSA knows it will face a challenge on Friday, but the Roadrunners embrace challenges.
“Our guys know the formula to success,” Hallmark said. “Of course, Kansas State and the other teams are going to try to disrupt our formula. That’s why we’re all here. That’s what makes it fun. Our work’s cut out for us, but we’re also looking forward to it.”
Building A Wall … Literally
Severe weather in the Austin area on Wednesday evening, which included winds of greater than 70 miles per hour, damaged the 28-foot-high wall in center field prior to Thursday’s practice day. Texas officials are currently making repairs to the wall and expect this weekend’s game schedule will not be impacted.
The Roadrunners were unable to test the depths of center field during practice on Thursday due to the ongoing repairs. That’s where having played at UFCU Disch-Falk Field already this season – UTSA beat then-No. 8 Texas 8-7 in 12 innings on March 18 – becomes advantageous.
“We do know the ballpark and I think that helps a little bit,” Hallmark said. “It helps in the outfield. We’ll see how we do, but when you go to a new field, with the nooks and crannies, the ball can play a certain way. Warning tracks and walls are a little different sometimes. It’s not our own ballpark, but I do hope we defend well. Knowing the ballpark can – doesn’t mean it will – help with that.”
Turning the Page
UTSA’s impressive accomplishments during the 2025 season have been well-documented. They’re what allowed the Roadrunners to reach an NCAA Regional for just the fourth time in program history – something they strive to make a regular occurrence.
But as NCAA play begins, all 64 teams competing for a spot in the College World Series are starting a new chapter.
“I’m grateful to be a part of it and I’m proud of them,” Hallmark said. “It’s time to turn the page. It’s a new season. We’re getting focused. The opponents are really good. It will take the best of every one of us to win this thing.”