| March 6, 2004
Contact: Erin Molina (210) 458-4930
UTSA rally falls short in 6-5 loss to Penn State Box Score
SAN ANTONIO -UTSA out-hit Penn State 10-9 with four Roadrunners collecting multiple hits, but it was not enough as the Nittany Lions came away with a 6-5 win on the opening day of the Alamo City Classic Saturday night at Wolff Stadium.
The Roadrunners were down 2-0 after an inning of play, but posted two runs in the second to even the count. A groundout by Eric Moreno scored Brandon Saunders, followed by an RBI double by J. R. Voyles (2-for-4) that plated Michael McKennon. The teams took turns scoring a run in the third to keep the score knotted until UTSA went ahead in the fourth with Sam Mitchell (2-for-5) driving in Ryan Crew to cap a two-out rally.
Aaron Rodriguez held the Nittany Lions scoreless for three more innings ending a six-inning performance that included seven hits, two earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts.
Penn State fought back in the seventh inning when they broke through with three runs to take the lead for good. Matt Harter delivered an RBI single to score Mike Milliron who led off the frame with a walk. Roadrunner reliever Blake Brannon struggled in the inning giving up the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, which would bring Chad Kuck to the mound for the Runners. Clint Eury then singled providing an insurance run in Harter for the 6-4 Nittany Lion lead.
UTSA would rally in the ninth with Chris Lewis (2-for-3) singling to lead off the frame. Zach Etheredge followed with a walk and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Semper. McKennon lifted a fly ball to right deep enough for Lewis to come home, but it was as close as the Runners would get.
Clint Eury took the mound from first base to preserve the Penn State win for his first save while Josh Palm (1-0) earned the win.
Brannon (1-2) suffered the loss for UTSA who falls to 6-5 on the season.
In the earlier game of the Classic it was host Notre Dame defeating Southern Illinois 12-11 in 11 innings. Tomorrow's schedule features UTSA versus Notre Dame at 1:30 p.m. and Penn State versus Southern Illinois in the nightcap. All games are played at Wolff Stadium.
NON-CONFERENCE BASEBALL
UTSA 5, Penn State 6
UTSA 021 100 001 - 5 10 1
Penn State 201 000 30x- 6 9 2
Rodriguez, Brannon (7), Kuck (7) and Etheredge; Farrell, Clark (3), Palm (6), Eury (9) and Harter. W - Palm (1-0). L-Brannon (1-2). S - Eury (1).
Records: UTSA 6-5, Penn State 4-1.
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