| April 20, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. UTSA travels to Arlington for pivotal three-game SLC series Series Notes | Live Audio (Friday) | Live Audio (Saturday & Sunday)
GameTracker -Friday | Saturday | Sunday
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The UTSA baseball team returns to Southland Conference action this weekend with a pivotal three-game series against Texas-Arlington on Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. UTSA is one game back in the win column of UTA for second place in the conference. UTSA Roadrunners (24-12, 10-5 SLC)
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Texas-Arlington Mavericks (18-22, 11-5 SLC) Friday, April 21 • 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 22 • 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 23 • 1 p.m.
Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, Texas All-Time Series
The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 29-19, over the Roadrunners. Last season, UTSA took the series against UTA and ended a 10-game losing streak to the Mavs with a 12-4 pounding on April 15 at Roadrunner Field.
Last Outing
The Runners ended a 13-game losing streak to the Texas Longhorns in a 14-10 slugfest at Wolff Stadium Tuesday evening. UT came into game ranked fifth in the country. The win over No. 5 Texas is the biggest upset in UTSA’s baseball history. Senior Noah Tritz came into the game for the Runners and picked up his team leading eighth win of the season. The Spring, Texas, native, tossed two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run while punching out two Longhorns. For the third straight game, the Runners managed to score over 10 runs and collect double digit hits (16). The Roadrunners were led by sophomore Marshal Davis and J.R. Voyles with three RBI apiece, while senior Lee Todesco and sophomore Zach Etheredge paced UTSA with three hits apiece. With the 1-for-3 night, Voyles extended his career best hitting streak to 23 games. Junior Michael McKennon and freshman Michael Rockett added two hits apiece. McKennon also tagged on two RBI. Etheredge scored a season-high four runs.
Scouting Texas-Arlington
Texas-Arlington is coming off a 6-3 win over Hawii-Hilo on April 18 at Clay Gould Ballpark. In their last five games, the Mavs are 3-2 including a win over Texas on April 11 in Austin, Texas. Last weekend, UTA dropped the series to McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. The Mavericks are ahead in percentage points over the Roadrunners for second place in the SLC standings. UTA is sporting a 17-22 overall record and is 11-5 in conference play. Junior Adam Moore leads the team in four offensive categories. He tops the team with a .374 batting average, 55 hits, 14 doubles and five home runs.
Slugfest II
UTSA couldn’t get enough of its recent slugfest against Nicholls State, that they decided to add a sequel. UTSA and UT combined for 24 runs and 26 hits. The Roadrunners have scored over 10 runs and collected doubles digits in hits in the last three games. The Runners are batting .409 with 47 hits and 40 runs during those three contests.
Slugfest I
UTSA and Nicholls State slugged it out last weekend. The teams combined for 76 hits and 57 runs, including a wild one on Friday, April 14, were the squads combined for 30 runs off 31 hits and 20 walks. For the weekend, UTSA batted .394 as a team.
Swinging A Hot Bat
In his last nine games, Todesco has increased his batting average from .297 to .359, which ranks seventh in the conference and second on the team. He also has driven in 14 runs, scored seven times and collected 19 hits while batting .514. In the weekend series against the Colonels, the Buda, Texas native, collected eight hits in 14 at-bats, scored four runs, recorded four doubles and a triple, while collecting five RBI. He also slugged 1.000 and had a on-base percentage of .533.
Walk The Line
Second baseman J.R. Voyles set a single-game school record with five walks in his first five plate appearances in the Friday win against Nicholls State. He was one walk shy of tying an NCAA and SLC record for most free passes in a game (6).
Freshman Shines
Freshman James Keithley stepped it up a notch over the weekend. He went 7-for-13 (.538), collected five RBI, legged out two doubles, scored four times and blasted a walk-off two-run homer. Taking One For The Team
Michael McKennon has been beaned 16 times this season, which leads the team and ranks second in the conference.
Voyles’ Streaking
Voyles currently has a career-best 23-game hitting streak which started against Dallas Baptist. During his hitting streak, Voyles has upped his average to .303 from .216.
Touch’em All
McKennon has belted a team-best eight home runs this season, including two walk-off homers. His eight bombs are fourth best in the conference. He already surpassed his home run total of three from last season. In his freshman season, he smacked two homers.
Multi McKennon
Michael McKennon leads the team with 17 multi-hit games, including 12 games with at least two hits.
Rockett Power
Freshman Michael Rockett is having a terrific rookie season for UTSA. In 29 games played, Rockett is batting .363, which is sixth best in the league and leads the team. He also has 37 hits in 102 at-bats, 17 RBI and is slugging .490.
Going the Distance
Josh Ruffin pitched his third complete game of the season two weeks ago, which tops the SLC. The Humble, Texas native, has two shutouts under his belt and is first in that category. On the year, Ruffin is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
Win Number 20
With the win on April 8, UTSA picked up its 20th win of the season. Last season, the Roadrunners didn’t reach the 20-win mark until April 26, 2005, when UTSA defeated Texas A&M, 4-2, in College Station.
Extra Extra
The Roadrunners have played in six extra-inning games this season. They have posted a 4-2 mark in those contests. Three of the six games have gone into the 12th inning, with UTSA going 3-0 including two of them being won via walk-off homers. The last time, UTSA played in at least five or more extra-inning games was during the 2002 season.
Ruffin’s Stellar Outing
Junior right handed pitcher Josh Ruffin pitched one of his best game in his Roadrunner career. Ruffin tossed UTSA’s first solo two-hitter in the 3-0 win against Lamar on March 18. The Humble, Texas native, had no-hitter through seven innings, but Matt Lambeth broke up the no-no with a single.
Ruffin Earns SLC Honors
Ruffin’s picked up UTSA’s first Southland conference weekly pitching honor on March 22.
UTSA Brings Down Elite Programs
UTSA hosted the Baseball Express Collegiate Classic on March 10-13 and went 4-0. The Roadrunners collected wins over two Big Ten schools, Iowa and Illinois, took down a Big 12 program in then-No. 15 Texas A&M and also handled Louisiana-Lafayette to complete the sweep.
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