| Sophomore Michael Rockett tied his career high with four RBIs on Thursday. |
FRISCO – Houston scored eight runs with two outs in the bottom of the second inning and held on for a thrilling 12-10 victory against UTSA on Thursday in the opening game of the Southwest Diamond Classic at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
The Roadrunners (0-6), who scored runs in each of the first five innings, drew first blood when junior Marshal Davis led off the game with a double down the right field line and came home on sophomore Michael Rockett’s first sacrifice fly of the day.
UTSA went on to add its second run an inning later when senior Ryan Saltzgaber stroked a lead-off single to center, stole second and advanced to third when UH first baseman Josh Stirneman couldn’t handle the pick-off attempt from starting pitcher Donnie Joseph. Saltzgaber crossed the plate two batters later when sophomore second baseman James Keithley grounded out to second base.
Then the momentum of the game changed on a questionable call with one out in the bottom of the frame.
The Roadrunners appeared to be out of the inning when Luis Flores grounded into an inning-ending double play, but third base umpire Bruce Segal ruled that Keithley failed to touch second base. The Cougars (5-5) went on to score eight runs on three walks and four base hits off UTSA starter Blake Brannon and never looked back.
UTSA answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third, but UH came back with a three spot in the bottom half of the inning. The Roadrunners pulled within 11-9 with a four-run fourth and one-run fifth, but the Cougars picked up an insurance run in the sixth when Dustin Kingsbury launched a solo homer over the left field wall with one out, his second of the season.
The Roadrunners threatened in the eighth with runners on first and third with two outs, but Davis was picked off first by Flores to end the inning.
UTSA pulled within two in the ninth when junior Trent Lockwood hit his second home run in as many games with one out off Brian Tully, who moved from right field to pitcher to start the eighth. Senior Ryan Saltzgaber followed with a walk and pinch hitter Greg Sillivent reached on a fielding error by second baseman Bryan Pounds. Saltzgaber advanced to third when Keithley flied out to right, but both he and Sillivent were stranded when senior Mitch Ponza struck out looking to end the game.
Chris Wright (1-0) relieved Joseph with one out in the fourth and tossed a hitless 3.2 innings. Wright allowed just one run but walked four. Tully earned his first save of the season for the Cougars.
Three Roadrunners – Davis, junior Zach Etheredge and Ponza – each had two hits on the day, while Rockett tied his career high with four RBIs.
Brannon (0-2) picked up the loss, surrendering nine runs on six hits and five walks in two-plus innings. Senior Josh Blakley relieved Brannon after a leadoff walk to start the third and went on to allow three runs in his four innings of work. Junior J.T. Mackey came on with runners on first and second and nobody out in the seventh and finished the game with a pair of scoreless frames.
UTSA is back in action on Friday morning when it play Gonzaga (2-7) at 11 a.m.