| April 7, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. UTSA holds off Southeastern Louisiana’s late charge in 9-7 victory Box Score
HAMMOND, La. – UTSA scored two runs in the top of the ninth and held off Southeastern Louisiana’s late rally in a 9-7 win in Southland Conference action Friday night at Alumni Field.
The Roadrunners improved to 19-11 overall and 6-4 in SLC play, while the Lions dropped to 13-15 and 4-6 in league play.
Junior Michael McKennon (right) paced UTSA’s hitters with a 3-for-5 night. McKennon collected three runs batted in, scored two runs and belted a home. Sophomore Marshal Davis and senior Lee Todesco also recorded three hits apiece. Todesco drove in two runs on the night, while junior Mitch Ponza posted two RBI.
Senior Noah Tritz recorded his sixth win on the season. He tossed one and two-third innings, struck out one batter, walked one and gave up two runs. Junior Steve Vasquez pitched five innings, fanned four batters, allowed one walk and three runs.
Southeastern Louisiana had five players with at least two hits. Chris Province suffered the loss and dripped to 3-4.
UTSA struck first with three runs in the top of the third inning, all with two outs. Sophomore Marshal Davis reached base with a double to left field. Senior J.R. Voyles drew a two-out walk. Junior Michael McKennon smacked a two-run double to right field to score Davis and Voyles. A single by senior Lee Todesco to right field plated McKennon home from second to make the score 3-0.
Southeastern Louisiana trimmed the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Richard Imhoff and senior Jason Waguespack led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Imhoff score the first run for SLU on wild pitch by a UTSA pitcher. Junior Tony Suarez’s single to right field scored Wageuspack from third base.
UTSA pushed its lead to 4-2 when Davis got on base with a single, then moved to third on a hit by McKennon and an error on Southeastern Louisiana. Todesco (left) picked up his second RBI of the game with a single to right to score Davis. The Roadrunners increased their lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning. Freshman James Keithley led off with a triple to right field and Voyles got on base via a walk. Junior Mitch Ponza plated Keithley and Voyles home with a single up the middle.
The Lions cut the lead to 6-3 in bottom of the sixth with one run. Waguespack started off the frame with a walk. SLU loaded the bases with back-to-back single by Ryan Spencer and Kyle Ginn. An RBI single to center by Tony Suarez brought home Waguespack.
In the sixth inning, SLU had the bases loaded with no outs and senior Caleb Barton came in relief to shut down the Lions. He forced Dillon Sudduth into a fielder’s choice, got the force out at home and then got Ricky Newman to hit into a double play to end the inning. UTSA went up 7-3 in the eighth when Davis brought home sophomore Zach Etheredge, who reached on a double.
Southeastern Louisiana tied the game at 7-all with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ginn began the inning with a double, then came home on a single by Sudduth. With one outs and bases loaded, Wade Miley cut the deficit to 7-5 when he scored on a wild pitch. Ty Summerlin’s double down the left field line tied the game.
The Runners regained the lead by scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning. McKennon highlighted the inning with his seventh home run of the season.
UTSA and SLU continue its series with game two at Alumni Field on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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