· Box score
FRISCO – Junior J.T. Mackey balked home the winning run with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th and Missouri State rallied for a wild 11-10 victory against UTSA on Saturday afternoon at the Southwest Diamond Classic.
The two teams combined for 30 hits on an afternoon that saw a dust storm caused by winds that were gusting in excess of 50 miles per hour. The Roadrunners, who had a season-best 13 hits and tied their season high for runs, dropped to 1-7 with the heart-breaking loss, while the Bears saw their record improve to 2-1.
Mackey (0-1), who relieved junior Mark Ruffin with two outs in ninth, gave up a one-out single to Brayden Drake in the 10th. Christian Overstreet followed with a grounder to second baseman James Keithley, but the sophomore could not handle the sharp grounder. Ben Carlson then hit a bloop single to center that loaded the bases. Mackey got Chris Taylor to pop up to junior shortstop Marshal Davis for the second out of the frame, but the right-hander was called for a balk before throwing a pitch to the next hitter.
By the end of the fourth inning, the winds had calmed down, but the offensive fireworks continued. However, Missouri State was the sole benefactor.
The Bears tied the game in the sixth when they scored three runs on four singles. The first three hitters of the frame stroked base hits off UTSA starter Bradley Chovanec and he was then relieved by Ruffin. The right-hander promptly gave up a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Drake that enabled the Bears to climb within two at 10-8. After a two-out walk loaded the bases, Ruffin appeared to be out of the inning without further damage when Taylor, who was pinch hitting for Shane Elenz, hit a pop fly into shallow center field. However, Davis ranged toward his left but was unable to make the catch and the single plated two runs to tie the game at 10.
Missouri State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first off Chovanec, but UTSA responded with seven runs on seven hits in the top of the second. The first five hitters reached base safely with base hits and a throwing error by Carlson to the plate with the bases loaded helped open the flood gates.
The Bears drew within one in the bottom half of the second with four runs, as Elenz launched a three-run home run to right center in his first at bat of the season and Matt Lawson drove in a run with a fielder’s choice following a throwing error by Chovanec to second base.
UTSA added a three-spot in the fourth on five hits to push the lead to 10-6, but Missouri State pushed across its seventh run in the bottom half of the inning when Ben Woodbury drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a ground out to second and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Kyle Paul.
Buddy Baumann, who came in for Bears starter Tim Clubb with one out in the fourth, was outstanding in relief. Baumann kept Missouri State within striking distance by allowing just three base runners (two walks, hit batter) in 4.2 hitless innings. Matt Frevert (2-0), who relieved Baumann after he walked Keithley to start the ninth, tossed a pair of scoreless innings and picked up his second relief victory of the season.
Five Roadrunners had at least two hits on the day with senior Ryan Saltzgaber leading the way. Saltzgaber was 3-for-5 with his third double of the year and he scored two runs and drove in one. Junior Trent Lockwood extended his season-opening hitting streak to seven games by going 2-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBIs and junior Zach Etheredge and Keithley both stroked two hits and drove in two. Redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ruffin tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and a walk, while tying his career high with four strikeouts.
Both starting pitchers had their fair share of trouble in the windy early innings.
Chovanec allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits, walked two and struck out five in his five-plus innings of work, while Clubb gave up 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits, two walks and a pair of hit batters in his first collegiate start.
UTSA is back in action on Monday night when it hosts St. Mary’s (9-3) in the first of back-to-back games at Wolff Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
