| March 3, 2005
Contact: Matt Schabert (210) 458-4930 Roadrunners travel to Edinburg for Al Ogletree Classic Complete Release | Texas-Pan American Athletics Web Site SAN ANTONIO - Coming off a tough 4-2 loss to No. 8 Baylor on Tuesday, the UTSA baseball team travels to Edinburg, Texas, for the Al Ogletree Classic hosted by Texas-Pan American on Friday-Sunday, March 4-6. The Roadrunners open with Illinois on Friday at 2 p.m., face Birmingham-Southern on Saturday at 11 a.m. and conclude the tournament with the host Broncs on Sunday at 6 p.m. UTSA Roadrunners (0-11)
at
Al Ogletree Classic
hosted by Texas-Pan American Friday-Sunday, March 4-6
Edinburg Baseball Stadium • Edinburg, Texas First Pitch
• UTSA travels to Edinburg, Texas for the Al Ogletree Classic hosted by Texas-Pan American at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
• Participants include the University of Illinois, Birmingham Southern College, Texas-Pan American and Sam Houston State.
• The Roadrunners have faced UTPA 50 times since 1992, UTSA’s most games against any 2005 opponent.
• Senior Aaron Rodriguez leads the pitching staff with 16 strikeouts, while sophomore Michael McKennon continues to lead UTSA at the plate with a .295 average.
Tournament Time
This weekend will mark the second tournament UTSA has participated in this season. The Roadrunners went 0-2 in the Midland RockHounds College Classic and will play in the Alamo City Classic at Wolff Stadium next week.
Welcome Back
Right-handed pitcher Steven Vasquez, a sophomore from Beeville, Texas, is slated to make his return to the mound this weekend after being sidelined for several months. He suffered a neck injury in an auto accident in the off-season and then suffered a broken right hand a few weeks ago. Last season, he led the team in starts with 15 and went 5-5 with a 6.20 ERA. He will likely see relief action this weekend.
UTSA Versus The Conferences
The Roadrunners are 4-7 against teams from ther Big Ten Conference, including going 3-4 against Illinois, 0-1 against Indiana and 1-2 against Penn State. The Roadrunners have never faced a school from the Big South.
Wanna Be Like Mike
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 (.295), hits (13), doubles (3), RBI (9) and home runs (1). He has hit safely now in eight of the past ten games.
Tough Slate
UTSA faces six teams this year that are ranked nationally in the top 30 for either Collegiate Baseball or Baseball America. Baylor is ranked 14th by Baseball America, while the Roadrunners have already faced no. 1 Texas, no. 12 Texas A&M and no. 28 Texas Tech. UTSA also is scheduled to play no. 20 Notre Dame and No. 25 Oral Roberts in the Alamo City Classic.
Motley Crew
UTSA junior Ryan Crew has solidified a spot in the starting rotation. Against Baylor on March 1, he struck out a career high high six batters in four innings. In his starter debut against Texas A&M on Feb. 23, 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 148 career hits, he needs just 13 to climb to 10th in career hits. He needs just 12 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. After just one season on the mound, he is already sixth in career saves. His 76 hits in 2004 ranked as the fifth best single season hit performance in school history.
Green Light
The Roadrunners are 12-of-14 (.857 success pct.) in stolen bases so far this season. Senior Sean Danielson is 4-for-6, while junior Ryan Crew has not been thrown out yet, going 3-for-3. Junior J.R. Voyles is 2-for-2.
Someone Shut Off The Power
After leading the Southland Conference in home runs with 55 in 2004, the Roadrunners have yet to get in the groove of knocking them out this year. After 11 games, UTSA has just one round-tripper.
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, the speedster has a .976 fielding percentage and has four assists from his position as well. After a slow start at the plate, Danielson has now hit safely in four straight games to rank second on the team, and he ranks second on the team with a .286 average.
Six for Saltzgaber
Sophomore Ryan Saltzgaber, a transfer from Kansas State, sports the Roadrunners’ longest current hitting steak at six games. During that span, Saltzgaber is 9-for-21 at the plate (.300 avg.).
Bullpen Ace
Sophomore righthander Blake Brannon is definitely seeing more than his share of playing time. With injuiies abundant on the pitching staff, Brannon has stepped in and provided the Roadrunners with a trustworthy option out of the bullpen. He leads the team with eight appearances and also tops UTSA with a 3.31 ERA. he has made an appearance in four of the last games. Against Baylor on Wednesday, he struck out four batters in 4.0 innings of work.
Sitting ‘em Down
Senior lefthander Aaron Rodriguez fanned a UTSA season high seven batters last Saturday against New Mexico State. In 21.2 innings in 2005, Rodriguez leads the Roadrunners with 16 strikeouts. In 2004, he ranked on the team with 70 strikeouts and has now recorded 138 Ks in his career.
Getting his Chance
Redshirt freshman outfielder Phillip Allen made his first career defensive start in right field last Sunday against Texas Tech. At the plate, he also responded by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to lead UTSA. In just six games in 2005, Allen is hitting .286 but doesn’t have enough at-bats yet to qualify in the NCAA stats. Allen also ranks second on the team with a .417 on-base percentage and has not struck out in 14 times to the plate.
Check the Scorecard
The Roadrunners have used a variety of starting lineups and batting orders in 2005, and the leadoff position where senior Sean Danielson is has been the only spot not utilized by more than one player. The seventh and eighth positions has been switched most frequently with five different players in those spot.
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.
Up Next
The Roadrunners return to Wolff Stadium for the annual Alamo City Classic on March 9-12. The tournament is officially hosted by Notre Dame and Wolff Stadium. UTSA plays Notre Dame on March 9 on 7:15 p.m., Oral Roberts on March 10 at 5:30, and Southwest Missouri on March 11 at 5:30 p.m. The festivities conclude on March 12 with the cons/champ games.
|
