Baseball

Vasquez, offense highlight UTSA's 9-4 win at Texas-Pan American

 

April 19, 2005
Contact: Matt Schabert (210) 458-4930

Vasquez, offense highlight UTSA's 9-4 win at Texas-Pan American

Box Score

EDINBURG – Sophomore Steven Vasquez tossed seven innings, struck out five, and allowed just four hits, and the University of Texas at San Antonio offense produced 15 hits en route to a 9-4 non-conference road victory at Texas-Pan American Tuesday night at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Vasquez, making just his second start of the year after missing the first 30 contests recuperating from injuries, gave up two consecutive hits to open the game but then cruised through the next six innings, retiring 18 of the next 19 batters to improve to 1-1. He also lowered his season ERA more than five points. The Roadrunners ran their record to 16-24 on the year and have now drilled 63 hits in the four games against UTPA this year.

UTPA, which has dropped three straight to the Roadrunners , fell to 12-29.

While Vasquez was busy mowing down the Broncs, the Roadrunner offense heated up in the fifth inning, scoring five runs off six hits. UTSA added three more in the sixth and led 9-1.

Eight of the nine Roadrunner batsmen had at least one hit, led by junior Ryan Crew's 3-for-3 effort. Crew reached base all five plate appearances, drawing two walks as well. Junior J.R. Voyles went 3-for-5 with two runs, while senior Sean Danielson, sophomore Michael McKennon and freshman Tyler Johnson had two hits each. Johnson, making just his fifth start at first base, provided a career high three RBIs.

Mark Rodriguez, the younger brother of UTSA volunteer coach Hector Rodriguez, paced the Broncs with two hits. Aaron Guerra dropped to 5-3 with the loss. He allowed six runs, but only two were earned as the Bronc defense committed five errors.

With the game knotted 1-1, the Roadrunners opened the fifth frame with five consecutive singles to score three runs and take a 3-1 lead. Johnson then blasted a two-run double to account for the fourth and fifth runs.

In the sixth, UTSA plated three more scores on just one hit. The Roadrunners scored on a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice and a throwing error. The Broncs trimmed the deficit to 9-2 with a run in the seventh and plated two in the eighth for the final 9-4 margin.

The teams will conclude the mid-week two-game series tomorrow at Edinburg Stadium. The game, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., has been moved one hour back to 3 p.m.

-UTSA-