| Feb. 23, 2005
Contact: Matt Schabert (210) 458-4930 Roadrunners travel to Midland for RockHounds College Classic Complete Release | Midland RockHounds web site SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA baseball team hits the road for the RockHounds College Classic on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27, in Midland, Texas. The Roadrunners play New Mexico State on Saturday at 11 a.m. and Texas Tech on Sunday at 12 p.m. UTSA Roadrunners (0-8)
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RockHounds College Classic Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27
First American Ballpark • Midland, Texas Friday, Feb. 25: UTSA vs. Lamar - 1 p.m. - CANCELLED
Saturday, Feb. 26: UTSA vs. New Mexico State - 11 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27: UTSA vs. Texas Tech - 12 p.m. Notes on this Weekend’s Rotation
UTSA will open the weekend with junior lefthander Caleb Barton (Jr., 6-2, 220, Navarro, Texas), a transfer from Panola Junior College, Barton is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA. he’s made four appearances and made the start against no. 1 Texas last week. he’s given up just five earned runs in 11.0 innings and opponents are hitting .279 against him. Game two starter Aaron Rodriguez (Sr., 6-0, 250, Rosenburg, Texas) leads the Roadrunners with 16.2 innings pitched and nine strikeouts. He’s 0-2 but has a low 3.78 ERA. Against no.12 Texas A&M on Tuesday, he worked four innings of relief and limited the Aggies to just three hits and one run. Game three starter Jason Vecchio (Jr., 5-10 195, Pearland, Texas) is 0-2 on the year with a 7.88 ERA. He has worked 8.0 innings and struck out six while only walking two.
Mash Unit
Several Roadrunners are working through injuries, including two starting pitchers who are out indefinetely. Sophomore pitcher Steven Vasquez suffered a neck injury in an auto accident in the offseason and then suffered a broken right hand a few weeks ago. The cast is off the hand and he is throwing, and the coaching staff hopes he can return for the start of the Southland Conference schedule. Junior left-hander and projected starter Jacob Sansom is out with a left shoulder injury as is redshirt freshman left-hander Michael Susaneck. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Koger, junior transfer Art Gonzalez and redshirt freshman Drew Rogers all have right shoulder injuries. Senior transfer outfielder Stephen Holdren is out with a right knee injury, while reserve catcher Zach Etheredge is bothered by a right hamstring ailment. Freshman infielder Matt Guzman is still waiting to play after suffering a left groin injury.
Scouting Report
Lamar is 7-2 overall entering the tournament. Andrew Leal leads the Cardinals with a .375 average while preseason all-conference selections Adrian Cantu and Michael Ambort have two home runs so far.
New Mexico State is 5-7 in 2005. The Aggies, who led college baseball in home runs in 2004, are at it again in 2005 with 18 round trippers in 12 games. Mark Aranda and Adam Harvey have four homers each.
Texas Tech is 8-1 and ranked in the top 30 nationally in Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The Red Raiders hit .377 as a team and average 11.7 runs per game.
Sophomore Sensation
After leading the Roadrunners with 18 doubles and three triples last year, sophomore Michael McKennon is back at it again in 2005, leading UTSA in hitting (.324), hits (11), doubles (2), triples (1) and home runs (1). He had a six-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday against Texas A&M. His 18 doubles in 2004 ranked as the fifth best single season performance in school history.
Playing Against the Best
UTSA faces four teams this year that are ranked in this week’s Collegiate Baseball top 30, including Texas Tech (28th). The Roadrunners have already faced Texas (1st - L, 10-0) and Texas A&M (12th - L, 4-1) and are scheduled to also play Baylor (16th) on March 1.
Motley Crew
UTSA junior Ryan Crew made his first career start on the mound Tuesday in the 4-1 loss to Texas A&M. Crew tossed four innings and allowed just four hits and three runs. In 2004, Crew led the Roadrunners out of the bullpen with four saves in just six appearances. He was named first-team all-Southland Conference as shortstop in 2004 and has been named preseason all-Southland Conference in 2005. He was also Baseball America’s pick for Southland Player of the Year.
Record Chaser
Junior Ryan Crew is on the verge of putting his name on several career record charts. With 146 career hits, he needs just 15 to climb to 10th in career hits. He needs just 13 RBIs to pass Ed Burton and into 10th in career runs batted in, while Crew needs only five doubles to move into 10th in career doubles. His 76 hits in 2004 ranked as the fifth best single season hit performance in school history.
Can’t Catch Us
The Roadrunners are 9-of-11 in stolen bases so far this season. Senior Sean Danielson is 3-for-5, while junior Ryan Crew has not been thrown out yet, going 3-for-3.
Put Me in Coach, I Can Be Centerfield...
Senior transfer Sean Danielson is proving to be a solid fit in center field for the Roadrunners. After eight games, he has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and has three assists from his position as well.
Homecoming
After this weekend’s tournament, UTSA plays 11 of its next 16 games at home, including nine more at Wolff Stadium.
We’re not in Kansas Anymore
The 2005 Roadrunner roster reflects several junior college and Division I transfers, including two newcomers who came to San Antonio from Kansas State. Centerfielder Sean Danielson, from Irving, Texas, and third baseman Ryan Saltzgaber, from Pearland, Texas, both played collegiately at Kansas State before transferring to UTSA this season. Both are starters for the Roadrunners as well. In addition, UTSA has four other players who transferred this season. Senior Stephen Holdren (Texas A&M) and junior Noah Tritz (Southern Mississippi) are D-I newcomers, while juniors Art Gonzales (Vernon Junior College) and Caleb Barton (Panola Junior College) hail from the JUCO ranks.
Roadrunners Picked Sixth
UTSA has been tabbed for a sixth place finish in the Southland Conference this year, according the coaches and SID polls taken before the year began. Defending champion Lamar is again picked to finish number one.
Homegrown Talent
Head coach Sherman Corbett doesn’t have to go far to find the talent to fill the Roadrunners’ roster. Thirty-one (31) of the 33 players on the roster hail from right here in Texas. Only redshirt freshman Drew Rogers (Bradenton, Fla.) and senior transfer Stephen Holdren (Overland Park, Kan.) don’t call Texas home.
Next on the Ledger
The Roadrunners return home to host nationally-ranked Baylor on March 1 at 6 p.m at Wolff Stadium.
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