· Box score
HOUSTON — Sophomore Michael Rockett was called out at first base with two outs in the ninth and the tying run at third, as UTSA lost a heartbreaker in its 2007 season opener at No. 6 Rice on Tuesday evening. Rockett, who slid head first, appeared to beat first baseman Joe Savery to the bag, but first base umpire Reggie Liggons called him out and the Owls (3-3) held on for the 4-3 victory.
Ryne Tacker (1-0), who relieved starter Matt Langwell to start the fourth, entered the final inning with nine strikeouts in his five innings of work. However, the right-hander gave up a lead-off single to junior Trent Lockwood and was replaced by Kyle Gunderson after giving up a pinch-hit single to redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar. Gunderson, who promptly balked and then walked junior Marshal Davis to load the bases, gave way to Jared Gayhart.
Gayhart struck out junior Greg Sillivent but junior Zach Etheredge, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a wild pitch on the swinging third strike by Sillivent. Rockett then hit a sharp grounder to Savery and was called out on a very close play.
UTSA got on the board right away, scoring a run in the top of the first. Davis led off the game with a walk, moved to second on a Sillivent sacrifice bunt and scored when Rockett lined a single to center. The Roadrunners added another tally in the third when Sillivent singled with one out, moved to third on a Rockett single to left and fielding error and crossed the plate on junior Josh Wilson’s ground out to second.
Rice tied it up in the third, scoring runs on a bases loaded walk to Aaron Luna and when Jess Buenger was hit by a Josh Ruffin pitch one batter later. The Owls took the lead for good the following inning when Jordan Dodson stroked a lead-off single and Tyler Henley launched his first home run of the year just over the outstretched arm of senior right fielder Mitch Ponza two hitters later.
Ruffin (0-1) started and took the loss for UTSA, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in four innings of work. Junior Bradley Chovanec relieved Ruffin in the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings, while junior J.T. Mackey struck out two in a scoreless eighth.
Rockett and senior Ryan Saltzgaber each had two hits for the Roadrunners.
Langwell allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in his three innings of work and Gayhart earned his first save of the season.
The Roadrunners return to action on Friday when they open a three-game series with Louisiana-Lafayette at Roadrunner Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. in what will be the first contest in school history to be played under the lights.
