South Florida wins, will face ECU again; UTSA eliminates Florida Atlantic

by | May 24, 2025

UTSA and South Florida stayed alive in the AAC Tournament with victories on Friday.

East Carolina will now face South Florida again on Saturday in the second game of the day. Tulane and UTSA play in the first game, scheduled for 9 a.m.

Below is more information from the AAC.

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Photo credit: (Conor Kvatek, AAC photo)

By TheAmerican.org

CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 3 South Florida defeated No. 2 Charlotte, 7-6, in an elimination game on Friday afternoon, May 23, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

With the win, South Florida (31-24) advances to the semifinals on Saturday, May 24. The Bulls will have to win two games against East Carolina to advance to Sunday’s final. The first game on Saturday is scheduled for approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.

With the game tied at 5-5 in the top of the eighth, South Florida loaded the bases with no outs when Rafael Betancourt hit a 2-run single up the middle that scored Ryan Pruitt and Matt Rose.

Connor Maryniak led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run to right center to bring Charlotte within one at 7-6, Austin Newton (2-3) closed out the game with three straight outs, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Newton finished with four innings of work, allowing one run with six strikeouts, to earn the win.

Adam Stanton (4-2) took the loss for Charlotte, allowing two runs in 2.2 innings of relief.

No. 1 UTSA 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3

No. 1 UTSA defeated No. 4 Florida Atlantic, 6-3, in an elimination game on Friday afternoon, May 23, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

With the win, UTSA (44-12) advances to the semifinals on Saturday, May 24. The Roadrunners will have to win two games against Tulane to advance to Sunday’s final. The first game on Saturday is scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern on ESPN+.

With six runs, UTSA now has 499 runs for the season, breaking The American’s single-season record of 498, set by East Carolina last season.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, UTSA’s Lorenzo doubled to score James Taussig and Garrett Gruell scored Norris McClure on an RBI groundout to take the lead. Florida Atlantic (37-21) came right back in the top of the fifth as Carter Brady led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season to left field.

In the bottom of the sixth, UTSA regained the lead with a couple of runs on an RBI single by Drew Detlefsen and a sacrifice fly by Gruell. Florida Atlantic pulled one back in the top of the seventh with a 2-out RBI single by Nick Romano.

UTSA added two in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Diego Diaz and an RBI groundout by Ty Hodge.
6-3.

Kendall Dove (2-0) earned the win for the Roadrunners, allowing a run in 1.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts, while Robert Orloski earned his eighth save of the season, going 2.1 innings without allowing a run.

Carter Holjes (3-4) took the loss for the Owls, allowing two runs in 1.1 innings of relief.

2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central

Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 | Box Score | Highlights

Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane 10, No. 1 UTSA 6 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina 6, No. 2 Charlotte 5 | Box Score | Highlights

Friday, May 23
Game 9: No. 1 UTSA 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 (Florida Atlantic eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 10: No. 3 South Florida 7, No. 2 Charlotte 6 (Charlotte eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Saturday, May 24
Game 11: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 3 South Florida | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+

Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS and ESPN+

All times listed are Eastern.

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