| May 5, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. Louisiana-Monroe scores four runs late to beat UTSA, 5-3, in SLC action Box Score
MONROE, La. – Louisiana-Monroe used a four-run sixth inning to beat the UTSA baseball team, 5-3, in Southland Conference action Friday evening at Indian Field.
The Roadrunners had their five-game winning streak snapped and dipped to 31-15 overall and 15-7 in SLC play, while the Indians improved to 14-32 on the year and 8-12 in conference play.
Junior Josh Ruffin suffered his second loss of the season and dropped his record to 7-2 overall. He tossed six-plus innings, gave up five runs off 10 hits and collected five punch outs. Sophomore Zach Etheredge (right) drove in two of UTSA’s three runs and smacked his third home run of the season. Junior Michael McKennon paced the Runners with three hits, while Etheredge and freshman Michael Rockett posted two hits apiece.
UTSA got on the scoreboard first courtesy a two-run homer by Etheredge in the top of the fourth inning. ULM trimmed the lead to 2-1 with one run in the bottom of the frame. Junior Bo Bowman led off the inning with a walk. Senior James Bennett’s double down the left field line advanced Bowman to third. With one out, sophomore Dexter Fontenot’s sacrifice fly plated Bowman. The run scored by ULM was the first run allowed by Ruffin on the road in 30 innings of work.
The Indians took a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning with four runs off three hits. Junior Josh Morrison began the inning with a single up the middle, then came around to score when Fontenot single to left field. Junior Travis Drader gave ULM its first lead of the game with a three-run homer over the right field wall.
The Roadrunners made things interested in the ninth inning. Etheredge reached base with a single. Sophomore Marshal Davis drew a two-out walk, to give UTSA runners on first and second. Freshman Josh Barnett, who came in the game to pinch run, cut the deficit 5-3 when he scored off an Indian error. Reliever Nixon forced McKennon to groundout to second and end UTSA’s chance of a rally.
Game two between UTSA and Louisiana-Monroe is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Indian Field.
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