| April 1, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. McKennon’s walk-off homer beats McNeese State, 8-7, in extra innings Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Junior Michael McKennon (left) smacked his sixth home run of the season, on the first pitch he saw, in the bottom of the 12th inning to lead UTSA baseball team to a 8-7 win over McNeese State Cowboys in Southland Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
With the win, the Roadrunners improve to 17-10 on the year and 5-3 in SLC play, meanwhile, the Cowboys dipped to 15-11 overall and 3-5 in league play.
Freshman Michael Rockett posted a career day with two bombs, four hits and four runs batted in. McKennon and Freshman James Keithley each added two hits and one RBI apiece. McKennon leads the team with six home runs.
Sophomore pitcher Mark Ruffin picked up his first win of the season. He tossed 1 and two-thirds innings, allowed no runs, no hits, while walking two batters. Junior Josh Ruffin started the game, but got the no decision. He went seven plus innings, recorded three strike outs, allowed six runs off six hits and walked three Cowboys.
McNeese scored one run in the top of the inning. Sophomore Bryan Cartie reached base with a double down the right field line. With two outs, junior Joe Hulett’s RBI single to right field scored Cartie and gave MSU a 1-0 lead.
UTSA responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Senior J.R. Voyles got on base with a walk, then Senior Lee Todesco’s double plated Voyles from first base and tied the game 1-1. Keithley’s RBI single gave the Runners a 2-1 lead.
The Cowboys regained, 4-2, with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Tyler Dugas’ homer over the left field fence highlighted the inning. The Roadrunners answered right back with their own two-run blast by Rockett (right) to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom half of the fourth.
UTSA took a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning, when Rockett went deep for the second time of the day. The Roadrunners extended their lead 7-4 in the seventh inning, with the help of a McNeese error.
The Cowboys cut the deficit 7-6 in the eighth inning. Sophomore Beau Knowles led off with single to right center field, then stole second base. Cartie’s single advanced Knowles to third. A balk called on UTSA pitcher, allowed for Knowles to come home. Hulett’s RBI double brought Cartie home from second base and pull the Cowboys within one run. McNeese knotted the game 7-7 in the ninth inning on senior Chris Fontenot’s RBI single.
With one out in the 11th inning, McNeese State loaded up the bases. Ruffin (Mark) came in and closed the door on the Cowboys’ rally, when Ruffin force senior Chris Coover to fly out to shallow left and got junior Charlie Kingrey to groundout to second.
UTSA and McNeese State wrap up the series tomorrow at Roadrunner Field, with the first set for 1 p.m.
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