· Box score
SAN ANTONIO – Junior Trent Lockwood's base-loaded walk in the seventh completed a UTSA three-run rally with two outs and the Roadrunners picked up a thrilling 4-3 win against Houston on Tuesday night. It was UTSA's third victory in its last four contests and its seventh in a row at Wolff Stadium. The Roadrunners improved to 3-7 with the come-from-behind win, while the Cougars — who stranded 11 runners in the contest — saw their season record fall to 6-7.
Trailing 3-1 with two down in the seventh, junior Zach Etheredge got the rally started when he drew a walk off reliever Jimmy Raviele. Junior Phillip Allen followed with a single to right and junior Marshal Davis got UTSA within one when he plated Etheredge with a base hit to right. Raviele then walked sophomore James Keithley to load the bases.
Houston head coach Raynor Noble brought Barry Laird in from the bullpen and the right-hander hit sophomore Michael Rockett with a 1-1 pitch, which tied the game at three. Noble again called on his pen, electing to go with left-hander Donnie Joseph to face Lockwood. The junior first baseman drew a full-count walk, which gave the Roadrunners their first lead of the night.
Freshman Zach Calhoon (1-0), who did not allow a run in his 4.2 innings of work, retired the Cougars in order the final two frames and earned his first collegiate victory. The right-hander kept UTSA close by striking out a career-high five, while allowing just three hits.
Raviele (0-1), who gave up all three runs in the seventh, picked up the loss for the Cougars. He relieved starter John Touchton, who was making his first start of the year, with one out in the fifth. Touchton allowed just one run on four hits and a walks in his 4.1 innings of work.
True freshman Ryan Proudfoot was solid in his second career start as a Roadrunner. The right-hander gave up just one run on a pair of hits, walked four and punched out three in his four-plus innings.
Houston got on the board first with three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. Chris Joseph drew a lead-off walk off Proudfoot, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Lormand and came home on Felix Fanaselle’s liner to center off junior reliever Mark Ruffin. Fanaselle crossed the plate three batters later on Josh Stirneman’s base hit to center. Jimmy Cesario scored the final run of the frame when he came home on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Calhoon.
UTSA drew within 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the inning. Redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar legged out an infield single to lead off the frame and moved to third when junior Josh Wilson laced a single through the right side. Etheredge followed with a safety up the middle that plated Palincsar.
Davis paced the Roadrunners offense by going 2-for-3 with a run scored, one RBI and his team-leading 12th walk of the season. Lockwood was 0-for-3 and his season-opening hitting streak ended at eight games.
UTSA is back on action on Friday when it begins play in the Al Ogletree Classic against Stephen F. Austin (6-8). First pitch from Edinburg Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
