| April 4, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. Rockett, Barton guide UTSA past Texas-Pan American, 10-8 Box Score
EDINBURG, Texas – Freshman Michael Rockett (right) went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and senior reliever Caleb Barton held off a late rally as the UTSA baseball team edged Texas-Pan American, 10-8, at Edinburg Stadium.
The Roadrunners improve to 18-11 on the year, while Texas-Pan American dips to 15-21 overall.
Barton came in relief to close the door on UTPA’s rally for his first save on the year. He tossed one and two-thirds scoreless innings while fanning one batter. Freshman Andy Benedict made the first start of his UTSA career and picked up his first win, allowing three runs off six hits in five full innings. He struck out three batters and walked three.
Rockett tied his career best with four hits. Rockett and Todesco led the Roadrunners with three RBI apiece, while junior Mitch Ponza collected two hits and two RBI on the day. Senior J.R. Voyles had three hits and score three runs.
Ryan Foster suffered his first loss of the season for the Broncs. He went five innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits. Louie Alamia and Patrick Brooks paced UTPA with two hits and two RBI.
UTSA grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Voyles and junior Michael McKennon reached base on back-to-back singles to left field. Both of them advanced to second and third on a double steal. Todesco plated Voyles home on an RBI-groundout to first base.
The Roadrunners pushed their lead to 6-0, scoring five runs in the second inning. Rockett and junior Ryan Saltzgaber got on base with singles and moved over on a sacrifice bunt by senior Robbie Johns. Ponza’s single to center field scored Rockett and Phillip Allen, who came in to run for Saltzgaber. Todesco’s two-RBI double to right center capped off the Roadrunner inning.
Texas-Pan American scored one run the bottom half of the third inning. Junior Chris Lozano led off with a single to right field. A bunt single by junior T.J. Gilmer moved Lozano to second. Alamia’s single to center brought Lozano home from second base. The Runners extended their lead to 10-1 when Rockett smacked a double to left center to clear the bases, with two out in the top of sixth inning.
The Broncs pulled within 10-7 as the Broncs scored six runs off three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brooks highlighted the inning with a two-out, two-run double to left field. UTPA pulled within 10-8 in the bottom of the seventh. Osiel Flores reached base via a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Brady Honeycutt.
UTSA got out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth. With runners at second and third with one out, Barton induced Honeycutt and Lozano into groundouts to end the threat and the game.
UTSA hits the road this weekend for a Southland Conference series against Southeastern Louisiana on Friday-Sunday, April 7-9, in Hammond, La.
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