| May 17, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. UTSA and Texas State meet in pivotal three-game series this weekend Series Notes | Live Audio (Thursday only)
Live Stats (Thursday) | GameTracker (Friday-Saturday)
SAN ANTONIO – With four teams bidding for the top seed and regular season title in the Southland Conference, UTSA concludes its conference schedule with a key three-game series against I-35 rival Texas State on Thursday-Saturday, May 18-20, with first place implication. Game one is set for 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Field, while games two and three shift to Bobcat Field on Friday-Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. start.
All-Time Series
The Bobcats lead the series 33-21 over the Roadrunners. Last season, UTSA and Texas State met four times with the Runners winning three of the four games, including a 8-7 decision at the SLC Tournament on May 25, in Natchitoches, La.
Last Outing
Freshman Michael Rockett hit his fifth home run of the season, but it was not enough as Texas-Pan American used a three-run third inning to score the 5-4 win Tuesday evening. Rockett drove in two of UTSA’s four runs, while junior Michael McKennon and senior Lee Todesco collected two hits apiece. Junior Ryan Saltzgaber collected his 21st RBI of the season via a sacrifice fly. UTPA’s closer Tim Haines closed the door for the Broncs, as he picked up his 10th save of the year. Haines went one and two-third innings with four strike outs.
Scouting Texas State
Texas State enters this weekend series tied for third place with Lamar in the SLC standings. The Bobcats are two-games back of first-place McNeese State. Texas State took two of three versus Texas-Arlington last weekend at Bobcat Field. TSU dropped the first game, but then won the next two games. Senior Luke Cannon leads the team in four offensive categories, batting average (.325), triples (4), home runs (14) and RBI (51). Senior Scott Moore ranks first with 106 strike outs in 91.0 innings tossed and is second with a 3.16 earn run average.
Race For The Title
The top four teams in the league will be battle it out this weekend for first-place in the conference. UTSA is one game back of first-place McNeese State, while Lamar and Texas State trail McNeese by two games.
Broncs Pitching Silence Birds Bats
UTPA used four pitchers to keep UTSA’s hitters off-balance. Kelly Casares recorded a game high five strikeouts. The Broncs got out jams twice with runners in scoring position. They posted 13 Ks throughout the game.
Going, Going, Gone
Michael McKennon and Michael Rockett have combined for 15 of the 34 home runs hit this season. McKennon leads the team with 10, while Rockett has belted six home runs. McKennon has ended two games this season with walk-off homers. The first one came against Northwestern State (3/24), repeated once more against McNeese State (4/1). Rockett’s smacked two home runs against the Cowboys on April 1.
New Mark Set For UTSA
The Roadrunners set a new school record with most wins in conference play. Saturday’s win over the Bearkats gave the Runners their 18th SLC victory, which surpassed the previous mark of 17 wins set twice in 1996 and 1999 season.
Shutdown Mode
Josh Ruffin and Blake Brannon threw complete games shutouts back-to-back against SHSU on Friday and Saturday. It was the third time the Roadrunners had two consecutive shutouts in a season. The last time this was accomplish was during the 1994 season when UTSA blanked Prairie View A&M on Feb. 26 and Texas Southern on Feb. 27, 1994.
Power Dominance
The Runners offense pounded SHSU pitching staff over the weekend. The Roadrunners scored 28 runs on 36 hits, batted .375 and slugged .500. Meanwhile, UTSA’s pitching staff clamped down on the Bearkats allowing one run in 23 innings, including 16 scoreless frames and combining for a 0.36 ERA. Ruffin, Brannon and Barton held Sam Houston to a .156 batting average.
Another Stellar Performance
Blake Brannon has pitched his way back into the rotation Since returning to the rotation, he is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA and an .186 opponent batting average. He has allowed five runs in 24-plus innings and on May 13, Brannon collected his first complete-game shutout.
No Place Like Home
UTSA is an impressive 23-4 at home, including an 8-2 mark at Wolff Stadium this season. The 24 wins at home is the most ever victories.
How They Rank In The SLC
Lee Todesco stands third in the league with a .371 batting average, while Michael Rockett is fourth with a .366 average. Michael McKennon’s .357 average is ninth-best, but is fourth with 75 hits. Todesco stands in sixth with 46 runs batted in. Josh Ruffin leads the SLC with 103.0 innings pitched, five complete games and four shutouts. His seven wins rank fourth in the league. Noah Tritz tops the conference with eight saves and is second with eight wins.
30 Something Accomplished
The Roadrunners secured its fourth ever 30-win season with a sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on May 2. The last time UTSA accomplished this fate was during the 2001 season, when the Runners finished 30-29. Coach Corbett is the second coach in UTSA’s baseball history to have two 30-win seasons.
Looking For The Best Finish
This year’s team has them on pace of having its best season ever in both wins and winning percentage. With 5 games remaining, the Roadrunners on pace for its first ever 40-win season. The 1994 squad fell one win shy of 40, however, they managed to finish the season 39-18 (.684).
Birds Add A Couple Of Games
UTSA has added single games with Texas-Pan American and Dallas Baptist to the schedule as make-ups for games lost earlier this season. UTSA will travel to Edinburg, Texas, for a game at Texas-Pan American on Tuesday, May 16, at 6 p.m. The Roadrunners end their regular season against Dallas Baptist on Monday, May 22, at 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
Todesco’s Belts Islanders
Senior Lee Todesco smacked two home runs against TAMUCC. His first homer was a solo in the fifth inning. Todesco’s hammered a three-run shot over the left wall in the sixth inning. He also collected a career-high six RBI.
Plunk Record
Junior Michael McKennon became the hit-by-pitch leader with 32 beams. He is two shy of the tying the school record of 19, set by Matt McIntyre in 2001. He also ranks 17th in the nation averaging 0.37 hit by pitch per game.
Offensive Explosion
Against Stephen F. Austin, the Roadrunners punished SFA’s pitching staff with 14 runs off a season-high 18 hits. Junior Ryan Saltzgaber paced the Runners offense with four hits, including a solo blast and drove in three Runners. Also going yard was freshman Michael Rockett.
Nothing New For The Birds
The Roadrunners played in their seventh extra inning ball game this season. Three of the seven games have gone into the 12th inning, with UTSA winning them all.
Finally A Win On Sunday
The 4-3 win over the Lumberjacks on April 30th, gave the Runners their first Sunday win this season. Before Sunday’s win, UTSA was 3-6.
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