| May 3, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. UTSA Baseball travels to Louisiana-Monroe for a three game-set Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Audio
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA baseball team returns to SLC play this Friday-Sunday, May 5-7 against Louisiana-Monroe Indians at Indian Field in Monroe, La.
UTSA Roadrunners (31-14, 15-6 SLC)
at
Louisiana-Monroe Indians (13-32, 7-12 SLC) Friday, May 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 7 - 1 p.m.
Indian Field - Monroe, La. All-Time Series
The Indians led the all-time series 24-21 against the Roadrunners. Last season, ULM took the season series over UTSA at Roadrunner Field. UTSA had won five games in a row versus Monroe, but the last two meetings have been Indian victories.
Last Outing
The UTSA baseball team picked up its fourth 30-win season in school history with a twinbill sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. The last time the Roadrunners won 30 games in a season was in head coach Sherman Corbett’s first season at UTSA, in 2001. Freshman Andy Benedict picked up his second win on the year and improved to 2-0. He went five strong innings, allowed three runs, scattered six hits and fanned a career-high eight batters. Game two starter sophomore Mark Ruffin collected his third win and upped his mark to 3-1 on the season. Ruffin tossed six innings, gave up five runs off seven hits, walked two and struck out three. Senior Lee Todesco belted two home runs and collected a career-high six RBI.
Scouting Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana-Monroe has lost four consecutive games, including a 8-7 decision to Louisiana Tech on May 2 at Indian Field. In conference action, the Indians were swept by McNeese State on April 28-30 in Monroe, La. Heading into this weekend’s series ULM is 13-32 overall and 7-12 in SLC play. Freshman Ben Soignier leads the team with a .366 batting average and ranks second on the team with 60 hits and 29 runs batted in. Senior James Bennett has a team-best 33 RBI and 13 doubles on the season.
Reaching 30 Something
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.
Best Finish Ever
This year’s team has them on pace of having its best season ever in both wins and winning percentage. With 11 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).
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
In Friday’s game 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 0-5.
Runners Among Nation’s Best
UTSA has three players nationally ranked this season. Senior Noah Tritz is 24th in the nation with eight wins and is 31st with eight saves. Sophomore Marshal Davis is 38th in the country in walks per game with a 0.77 average. UTSA’s .689 winning percentage is 29th best in the nation.
Aggie Pitching Stops UTSA’s Offense
In Tuesday’s game against the Aggies, the Roadrunners were outscored 9-3 and out hit 15-9. UTSA left 13 runners on base, including six in scoring position. Texas A&M’s pitching staff collected 10 strike outs on the night.
Ruffin’s Haltered Mavs Offense
Josh Ruffin tossed his SLC leading third shutout on April 22 against UTA. Ruffin scattered six hits in nine innings, struck out five Mavericks and allowed two walks. He also went the distance for the fourth time this season, which also leads the conference. Ruffin is 6-1 on the year and 4-0 in SLC play. All of his shutouts have come on the road.
Josh Collects Pitcher of the Week Honors
In a week’s span, the Humble, Texas native, got the start against then No. 5 Texas Longhorns, were he went three innings, fanned three batters and allowed one run off two hits. He helped UTSA win the series versus UTA with a stellar outing on April 22. His performance gave Ruffin his second Aeropostale/SLC Pitcher of the Week honor.
Take That Texas!!!
UTSA ended a 13-game losing streak against the Texas Longhorns with a 14-10 win on April 18 at Wolff Stadium. The Roadrunners manage to overcome three deficits, none bigger then the four-run lead (10-6) UT had after six innings. The Runners scored eight runs in the last two innings to complete the rally and score the biggest win in UTSA baseball history.
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 scored 40 runs during those three contests.
Slugfest I
UTSA and Nicholls State slugged it out this weekend. Both team combined for 76 hits and 57 runs, including a wild one on Friday, April 14, were both squads compelled 30 runs off 31 hits and 20 walks. For the weekend, UTSA batted .394 as a team.
Walk The Line
Second baseman J.R. Voyles set a single-game school record with five walks in his first five plate appearances. He was one walk shy of tying a NCAA and SLC record for most free passes in a game (6).
Rockett Power
Freshman Michael Rockett is having a terrific rookie season for UTSA. In 38 games played, Rockett is batting .348. He also has 48 hits in 138 at-bats, 25 RBI and is slugging .486.
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, 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.
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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