| March 18, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930 Ruffin's two-hit shutout leads UTSA past Lamar, 3-0 Box Score
BEAUMONT, Texas – Junior pitcher Josh Ruffin carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and tossed a complete-game, two-hitter to lead UTSA past Lamar, 3-0, Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference action at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
The Roadrunners pick up their first SLC win on the year and improve to 13-8 overall and 1-1 in the league, while the Cardinals dropped to 14-10 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Ruffin pitched his second complete-game shutout, improving to 3-1 on the year. He stuck out seven batters, allowed three walks and gave up no runs.
Freshman Michael Rockett went 3-for-3 on day, scored twice and collected two steals. Senior J.R. Voyles and junior Michael McKennon each had one run batted in apiece.
Senior pitcher William Delage dipped to 4-2 on the year. He went seven innings, struck out five batters, allowed one walk and gave up three runs.
UTSA grabbed the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Voyles smacked a double to right field with one out and advanced to third base on throwing error by the Lamar pitcher. Junior Michael McKennon’s ground out allowed Voyles to come home.
The Roadrunners added their second run of the game in the third inning. Freshman Michael Rockett led off with a single to left field, moved to second on a steal. Voyles plated Rockett home from second with his second base hit of the day, to give UTSA a 2-0 lead.
Ruffin gave up back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second, with one out, in the bottom of the third inning. Ruffin managed to get out of the jam by forcing the Cardinals batters into two straight ground outs. This was the only time LU threatened in the game.
The Runners upped their lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh courtesy off a balk called on LU pitcher Delage, to score Rockett who had reached base for the third time on the day.
Ruffin had a no-hitter through seven and two-thirds inning broken when Matt Lambeth reached base with a single up the middle. Prior to the base hit, Ruffin had retired 12 consecutive Cardinals.
UTSA and Lamar wrap up the three-game set with the rubber match on March 19 at the Vincent-Beck Stadium, first pitch schedule at 1 p.m.
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