Baseball

Comeback effort falls just short in UTSA's 6-5 loss to Lamar

 

May 15, 2005
Contact: Matt Schabert (210) 458-4930

Comeback effort falls just short in UTSA's 6-5 loss to Lamar

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO - The University of Texas at San Antonio baseball team made a furious comeback attempt Sunday against visiting Lamar, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the effort fell just short in a 6-5 setback to the Cardinals in the finale of the three-game Southland Conference series at Roadrunner Field.

Finding themselves trailing 6-2 with one at-bat left, the Roadrunners got an RBI single from Ryan Crew to score Sean Danielson and a two-run homer by senior Stephen Holdren off Cardinal reliever Allen Harrington to pull to within one. But Chuckie Platt quelled the rally for his second save as the Cardinals improved to 33-20 and 14-10 in the league. UTSA fell to 22-30 and 13-11 in the league and now sits in fifth place with three league games remaining this week.

With at least one win in this week's three-game series at McNeese State, the Roadrunners can clinch a spot in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament scheduled for May 25-28 in Natchitoches, La.

Junior starter Caleb Barton (3-8) absorbed the loss as he tossed 6.1 inning and only allowed four runs while recording four strikeouts. The Roadrunner offense, however, could not provide enough run support as it was held to just four hits over the first six innings. Harrington (4-4) picked up the win in relief of starter Derrick Gordon, who walked eight men in 4.2 innings.

Just like it had done in the first two games, UTSA jumped on the Cardinals early with a run in the first inning. Danielson, who was honored before the game along with fellow seniors Holdren, Chris Lewis, Eric Moreno and Aaron Rodriguez, walked to lead off the game. He scored just two pitches later as junior J.R. Voyles drilled a double off the outfield wall off the Cardinal starter and last season's SLC Freshman of the Year.

The Cardinals pushed head, however, in the third with a pair of runs. Michael Ambort hit his league-high 16th home run to score Jo Jo Haney. Lamar added another score in the fourth for a 3-1 advantage. Matt Lambeth doubled home Will Henderson, who has led off the frame with a two-bagger himself.

The Roadrunners trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth as Gordon walked the bases loaded before giving way to Harrington. Harrington allowed a walk to his first batter, sophomore Michael McKennon, to score Crew, but the Roadrunners stranded three men in the inning.

The Cardinals tacked on single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings before UTSA made a valiant comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth.

Voyles and fellow junior Lee Todesco paced UTSA at the plate with two hits each. Danielson, who also walked three times, and Crew scored two runs apiece. Colt Crawford went 3-for-5 to lead Lamar.

The Roadrunners conclude the regular season this week at McNeese State. Game one is set for Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m., while game two is scheduled for Friday, May 20 at 3 p.m. The regular season finale is set for Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m. at Cowboy Diamond.
 

-UTSA-