| March 11, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930 UTSA wins sixth straight with 9-3 decision against Illinois Box Score | Photo Gallery
SAN ANTONIO – Junior Josh Ruffin (right) pitched eight solid innings and senior Lee Todesco drove in three runs as the UTSA baseball team won its sixth straight game with a 9-3 decision against Illinois Saturday night in front of 1,622 fans at the Baseball Express Collegiate Classic at Wolff Stadium.
The Roadrunners improve to 10-7 overall, while the Fighting Illini, the defending Big Ten Conference Tournament champions, fall to 4-4.
Ruffin improved to 2-1 on the season with his second consecutive strong outing. He fanned five batters and allowed three earned runs on seven hits in eight innings. His brother Mark came on to pitch a scoreless ninth as UTSA held its opponent to four runs or less for the fifth time in the last six games.
Todesco (left) went 1-for-4 with a double and drove in three key runs for an offense that pounded out 10 hits, including four two-baggers, on the evening. Freshman Michael Rockett had three hits and drove in a pair, while junior Ryan Saltzgaber and sophomore Zach Etheredge collected two hits apiece.
Playing as the visiting team, UTSA struck for two runs in the top of the first on a double to right center off the bat of Todesco that plated sophomore Marshal Davis and junior Michael McKennon.
Illinois answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame as Lars Davis singled to left to drive in Mike Rhode and Shawn Roof.
After a couple of scoreless innings, the Roadrunners put three on the board in the top of the fourth. McKennon led off with a double and moved to third on a failed pick off attempt. Todesco chopped a tough grounder behind the mound that resulted in a fielding error, allowing McKennon to come home with the go-ahead run. Todesco then moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right center by Etheredge. Davis drew a bases loaded walk later in the inning to make it 5-2.
UTSA tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Rockett and an RBI-groundout by Davis. A sacrifice fly by freshman Eric Johnston in the seventh increased the lead to 7-2.
The Fighting Illinois scratched for a run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-single by Ryan Hastings. Rockett singled home Saltzgaber in the top of the ninth for the final tally.
Scott Shaw (0-1) gave up five runs – three earned – on five hits in five innings of work in the loss.
The Roadrunners face Texas A&M on Sunday at 3 p.m.
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