SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners opened their 2026 season with an offensive explosion, erasing an early four-run deficit to rout the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 17-4 on Friday night at Roadrunner Field.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the second inning, which proved to be the most important sequence of the contest. After spotting the Jackrabbits a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, the Roadrunners’ offense ignited for a seven-run second frame, sending 12 batters to the plate and seizing control for good.

South Dakota State struck quickly against UTSA starter Orloski. Owen Siegert and Nolan Grawe led off the game with back-to-back singles, and after a walk loaded the bases, Dayton Franke’s groundout brought in the first run. The Roadrunners then turned to reliever DeBattista, but he issued another walk to re-load the bases before escaping further damage.

UTSA responded with two runs in the bottom of the first on Matt Hallmark’s two-run single, setting the stage for the game-altering second. Third baseman Arquette led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-3. After a lineout, the next seven Roadrunners reached base. A single and a walk preceded a two-run double from Detlefsen, giving UTSA its first lead at 5-4. Stucky and Haworth followed with RBI singles, chasing South Dakota State starter Madison.

Reliever Husar could not stem the tide, allowing an RBI single to Johnson, a bunt RBI single to Hallmark and a sacrifice fly from Arquette, his second RBI of the inning. When the onslaught ended, UTSA had turned a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead, collecting eight hits in the inning.

The Roadrunners continued to pour it on. Stucky blasted a three-run homer in the third inning to extend the lead to 12-4. Pinch-hitter Diaz added a two-run shot in the sixth, and Parmer connected for a solo homer in the seventh. UTSA capped the scoring with two runs in the eighth on Vaughn’s RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Bishop.

South Dakota State’s early offense was limited to the first inning and two late runs. Nate Wachter scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Luke Luskey drove in Grawe with a single in the seventh. The Jackrabbits managed nine hits but left nine runners on base.

UTSA’s offensive output was comprehensive, amassing 19 hits. Every Roadrunners starter had at least one hit, with Detlefsen, Stucky, Johnson, Hallmark and Miller each recording multi-hit games. The team also executed two sacrifice flies.

Five UTSA pitchers combined on the victory, with DeBattista earning the win in relief. South Dakota State used five pitchers, with starter Madison taking the loss.

The victory improved Texas-San Antonio’s record to 1-0, while South Dakota State begins its season 0-1. The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Texas-San Antonio had an 86.50 percent probability to win the contest.