· Diamond notes (.pdf)
Game 25 • March 27 • Texas-Pan American (11-20)
5 p.m. • Edinburg Stadium • Edinburg, Texas
UTSA Heads South For Midweek Tilt At UTPA: UTSA — winners of three in a row, seven of its last eight games and nine of 11 — heads to the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday to square off against Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. It is the Roadrunners’ second trip to the Valley this season, as they played in the Al Ogletree Classic from March 2-4. UTSA enters the 5 p.m. non-conference contest with a 13-11 overall record and perfect 6-0 mark in the Southland Conference. The Roadrunners, who scored in double figures just twice in their first 17 games, have done so in the last three contests and in five of their last seven overall.
Scouting The Broncs: Texas-Pan American, an NCAA Division I independent program, enters Tuesday’s contest with an 11-20 mark on the year. The Broncs have lost seven of their last nine games and will be playing for the first time since March 20 (4-1 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). UTSA leads the all-time series, 42-29, and it has won six of the last eight matchups between the two programs. UTPA picked up a 3-2 win against the Roadrunners on March 4 and its 5-4 victory at home on May 16 a year ago snapped the Roadrunners’ six-game winning streak in the series. Head coach Sherman Corbett is 24-7 all-time against the Broncs.
Red Hot Offense: After starting the year slowly, the UTSA offense has exploded the past eight games, seven of which have resulted in victories. The Roadrunners have scored 81 times (10.1 pg) and outscored the opposition by 40 runs during that time. UTSA has posted a .343 batting average on the strength of 104 hits (13.0 pg), slugged an astonishing .660 (200 total bases) and reached base at .402 clip. Half of the offense’s 104 hits (52) have gone for extra bases, including 25 doubles, 10 triples and 17 home runs. The Roadrunners also have stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts, which translates to an 84.6 percent success rate.
You Dropped A Bomb On Me: Seventeen of UTSA’s 22 home runs (77.2 pct.) this season have been hit during the past eight contests. Leading the long ball parade is junior Zach Etheredge, who has slugged five in the past seven games. Sophomore James Keithley, junior Trent Lockwood and senior Ryan Saltzgaber each have hit three bombs in the last eight tilts and Lockwood and Saltzgaber have grand slams among their three bombs. Also on the board are redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar, senior Mitch Ponza and sophomore Michael Rockett, all three of whom have left the yard once during the past eight contests.
We’re Going Streaking: Three Roadrunners currently are enjoying career-best hitting streaks. Sophomore James Keithley has hit safely in 12 consecutive games dating back to March 4. Keithley is hitting .390 (23-59) with three doubles, three triples, four home runs (.746 slugging pct.) and nine RBIs. Meanwhile, junior Trent Lockwood and senior Ryan Saltzgaber enter Tuesday’s game riding nine-game hitting streaks (both began March 11). Lockwood, who hit safely in his first eight games as a Roadrunner, has a robust .541 batting average (20-37) with six doubles, three homers (.946 slg%) and 15 RBIs. He is the only UTSA player with two streaks of eight games or better this season. Saltzgaber is hitting at a .385 clip (15-39) with two doubles, a pair of triples, three long balls (.769 slg%) and 13 RBIs during his nine-game stretch. Junior Zach Etheredge has hit safely in seven straight games, two short of his career best. He has posted a .452 average (14-31) with three doubles, a triple, five home runs (1.097 slg%) and 16 RBIs during his streak.
Close Games: The Roadrunners have shown the knack of playing close games this season. Sixteen of the club’s 24 contests have been decided by three runs or less and it has a 9-7 mark in those games. UTSA has a 4-3 record in one-run tilts, a 3-3 mark in two-run contests and 2-1 record in games decided by three runs.
Perfect Start Best Ever: The Roadrunners, off to a perfect 6-0 start in the Southland Conference after back-to-back sweeps at McNeese State and against Central Arkansas the past two weekends, are off to their best SLC start in school history. UTSA went 4-0 to open the conference season in both 1994 and ’96. The consecutive sweeps also mark the first time the program’s 16-year history that the Roadrunners have swept back-to-back three-game series against league opponents. UTSA now has swept SLC foes 15 times in school annals, nine of which have come under the direction of head coach Sherman Corbett.
Preseason Polls: UTSA was picked to finish second in the West Division by the sports information directors and third by the league’s coaches in the Preseason SLC Polls. The Roadrunners received five first-place votes in the SID rankings and three in the coaches poll. They were six points (51) behind co-favorites Texas-Arlington and Texas State in the coaches poll and only three (58) behind UTA in the SID poll. Defending regular season champion McNeese State was the consensus choice to defend its regular season title in the East.
Trio Named To Preseason All-SLC Teams: Three Roadrunners were named to the preseason All-SLC teams, as senior pitcher Josh Ruffin and sophomore outfielder Michael Rockett were first-team selections and senior third baseman Ryan Saltzgaber was named to the second team. Ruffin earned first-team accolades a year ago, while Rockett was a second-team honoree and Saltzgaber was an honorable mention selection.
Ruffin On The Career Charts: Senior Josh Ruffin’s name can be found all over the Roadrunners’ career record book. The Humble native is UTSA’s all-time record holder with four career shutouts and he also ranks fourth in victories (16) and complete games (seven), fifth in appearances (72) and innings pitched (279.1), sixth in strikeouts (173), seventh in earned run average (4.70) and eighth in games started (32).
2007 Captains: Senior starting pitcher Josh Ruffin, junior catcher Zach Etheredge and junior shortstop Marshal Davis will serve as the Roadrunners’ team captains this season.
What’s Back In 2007: UTSA is coming off a season that saw it finish with a 37-22 record (20-10 SLC). The team welcomes back 17 letterwinners — including five position starters and six pitchers — in addition to 19 newcomers this season. Topping the list of returnees are 2006 first-team All-SLC starting pitcher Josh Ruffin, a senior, and Freshman All-America center fielder Michael Rockett. Also back are sophomore second baseman James Keithley and senior third baseman Ryan Saltzgaber, both of whom earned honorable mention accolades a year ago.
Home Cooking: Roadrunner Field and Wolff Stadium were tough places for the opposition to play in 2006, as UTSA registered a school-record 24 home victories. That broke the previous UTSA record of 23 home wins set in 1994. The Roadrunners are 8-5 at home this year and now have posted a 251-175 (.589) all-time home record.
Hit The Lights: For the first time in school history, UTSA is playing night games at Roadrunner Field this season. Nine of the team’s 22 contests at the facility are being played under the lights. The Feb. 16 home opener against Louisiana-Lafayette kicked off the night-time action at the “Bird Bath” and UTSA is 2-1 under the lights at Roadrunner Field this year.
Tough Schedule: The Roadrunners’ 55-game schedule is highlighted by six opponents that qualified for the 2006 NCAA Tournament — Baylor, The College of Charleston, Houston, Rice, Texas and Texas-Arlington. UTSA has a 3-4 record against those squads this season.
Chasing 400: Mission Accomplished: UTSA won its 400th game in school history when it defeated St. Mary’s, 8-5, on Feb. 26. In 15-plus years of action, the Roadrunners have compiled 411 all-time wins, an average of nearly 27 per season.
Player Updates
C • Zach Etheredge, Jr. - Starter in all 24 games … leads the squad with eight multi-RBI performances, ranks second with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .589 slugging percentage and third with six doubles, 53 total bases and 11 multi-hit efforts … also hitting .333 with a triple and a .390 on-base percentage … has hit safely in the last seven contests, posting a .452 average (14-31) with three doubles, a triple, five home runs (1.097 slg%) and 16 RBIs during the streak … claimed SLC Hitter of the Week honors on March 26 after he hit .450 (9-20) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs … named to Southwest Diamond Classic All-Tournament Team (4-10, 4 R, 4 RBIs).
1B/DH • Trent Lockwood, Jr. - Has started 23 games, 20 at first base and three at DH … leads club in batting average (.380), multi-hit games (12), home runs (six), RBIs (27), total bases (60), slugging percentage (.652) and on-base percentage (.442) … also ranks second in hits (35), doubles (seven) and multi-RBI games (seven), including six-RBI performance on March 17 at McNeese State … currently on a season-best nine-game hitting streak, the last seven of which have resulted in multi-hit performances … owns a .541 batting average (20-37) with six doubles, three homers (.946 slg%) and 15 RBIs in during the streak … hit safely in his first eight games as a Roadrunner (only player with two eight-game streaks this season) … named to Southwest Diamond Classic All-Tournament Team (5-14, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, SB).
2B/LF • James Keithley, So. - Has started 15 games at second base and nine in left field … leads team with three triples and five stolen bases, ranks second with 23 runs and 57 total bases and third with 34 hits, four home runs, a .538 slugging percentage and 11 multi-hit games … also has .321 batting average with five doubles and 15 RBIs … currently on a career-best 12-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .390 (23-59) with three doubles, three triples, four home runs (.746 slg%) and nine RBIs … squad is 9-2 since he moved into the leadoff spot on March 9 … has scored in eight games in a row … has .392 batting average (31-79) with seven two-hit games, three three-hit performances and a career-best four-hit effort (March 10) in last 17 contests … hitting .376 (32-85) with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 15 RBIs since starting the season 2-for-21 (.095) … went 7-14 (.500) with four runs scored, a triple, his first homer of the year and four RBIs vs. the College of Charleston (March 9-11) … was 7-for-15 (.467) with eight runs scored, a double, one triple, a pair of home runs and three RBIs last weekend vs. Central Arkansas … 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
3B • Ryan Saltzgaber, Sr. - 2007 preseason second-team All-SLC … starter in all 24 contests … ranks second on the squad with a pair of triples and third in batting average (.337), runs scored (19), doubles (six) and stolen bases (four) … currently on a career-high nine-game hitting streak, the last two of which have been three-hit efforts … hitting at a .385 clip (15-39) with two doubles, a pair of triples, three homers (.769 slg%) and 13 RBIs during the nine-game stretch … has 10 multi-hit games this season, including three three-hit performances … 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
SS • Marshal Davis, Jr. - Starter in all 24 games … has reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 27 of his last 28 games dating back May 22, 2006 … leads team with 21 walks and ranks third with a .406 on-base percentage … also has scored 15 runs, stroked three doubles and a triple and driven in seven runs … has five two-hit games and a career-high-tying three-hit performance on March 17 at McNeese State.
CF • Michael Rockett, So. - 2007 preseason first-team All-SLC … leads team with 36 hits, eight doubles and 12 multi-hit games, ranks second with a .350 batting average and third with 22 RBIs … also has 19 runs scored, a triple, one home run and three stolen bases … has recorded seven two-hit games, four three-hit performances and a career-high-tying four-hit effort vs. Central Arkansas (March 24) … tied his career high with four RBIs against Houston (Feb. 22) and again last Sunday vs. Central Arkansas … was 10-for-13 (.769) with two doubles, a triple, his first homer of the season and six RBIs in last weekend’s series against UCA … 2006 Freshman All-America and second-team All-SLC selection.
LF/DH • Tim Palincsar, Fr. - Starter in 21 games this year (5 LF/16 DH)… leads club with 25 runs scored and five stolen bases and ranks second with 11 walks and .413 on-base percentage … also hitting .316 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs … has three consecutive two-hit performances … hit his first career homer vs. the College of Charleston on March 10 … had seven-game hitting streak from Feb. 23-March 4 (.385/10-26) … named to the Al Ogletree Classic All-Tournament Team (5-11, 2 R, 2B, SB).
SP • Josh Ruffin, Sr. - Preseason first-team All-SLC … leads team with 34 strikeouts in team-high 43.2 innings and also has three quality starts … is 2-1 with 5.77 ERA in seven starts … tossed a four-hitter for first complete game of year and struck out seven, as UTSA won its SLC opener at McNeese State (March 16) … allowed just one run on five hits and fanned six in seven innings vs. the College of Charleston (March 9) … struck out career-high nine and picked up first victory of year vs. Gonzaga (Feb. 23) after allowing just three runs on six hits in eight-plus innings … 2006 first-team All-SLC pick.
SP • Bradley Chovanec, Jr. - Second on squad with 4.02 ERA and 30 strikeouts (just seven walks) in 40.1 innings … has appeared in nine games with six starts and has 1-2 record … three of last four starting assignments have been quality starts … gave up two runs and fanned six in seven innings vs. Central Arkansas (March 24) to collect his first UTSA victory … allowed three runs in 6.1 innings, while striking out five vs. Sam Houston State (March 3) … made first career UTSA start on Feb. 17 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 K).
SP • Blake Brannon, Sr. - Third on the team with 28 punchouts in 28 innings of work … sports 1-3 record in his six starts … allowed two runs and struck out six in seven innings, as UTSA completed three-game sweep at McNeese State (March 18) … registered first quality start of year vs. the College of Charleston (March 11) … allowed pair of runs (one earned) on just six hits in seven-plus innings, while tying career high with eight strikeouts … entered senior season riding UTSA-record 29 scoreless innings streak and extended that stretch to 30 before giving up run vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (Feb. 16).
SP • Ryan Proudfoot, Fr. - Has 2-1 record and 2.21 ERA in five games (four starts) … has allowed just 13 hits (.173 BAA) and struck out 23 in 20.1 innings … picked up a pair of wins last week … tossed five hitless innings with four strikeouts vs. Lamar (March 20) and then allowed just one run on four hits and punched out career-high 11 vs. Central Arkansas four days later (March 25) … has allowed two runs on six hits and fanned 18 in last three starts, which covers a span of 15 innings (1.20 ERA).
RP • Josh Blakley, Sr. - Has appeared in 10 games and leads team with 3.60 ERA … has 2-0 record with one save and has a 21/4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 25 innings of work … two victories came vs. St. Mary’s (Feb. 26) and Central Arkansas (March 23) and he collected lone save vs. the College of Charleston (March 9) … fanned a career-high six vs. St. Mary’s … has gone at least four innings in four contests and 3.1 innings in another.
RP • J.T. Mackey, Jr. - Squad’s top setup man sports team-best 4-1 mark with one save in 13 games … has struck out 16 hitters in 19 innings … collected fourth win of year with five scoreless innings at McNeese State (March 17) … got out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the eighth to keep Roadrunners within one run in that contest … earned both of team’s victories vs. the College of Charleston … picked up first UTSA victory with two scoreless innings against Stephen F. Austin (March 2) … earned first save against St. Mary’s (Feb. 26).
RP • Zach Calhoon, Fr. - Has emerged has team’s closer … sports 1-1 record with three saves in 10 appearances … has tossed 14 innings (2.57 ERA), allowing just eight hits (.174 BAA), while striking out 20 … named SLC Pitcher of the Week on March 5 after posting win (vs. Houston) and save (vs. Stephen F. Austin) … struck out career-high five in 4.2 innings vs. Cougars (Feb. 27) … fanned final two batters against Gonzaga (Feb. 23) to earn first collegiate save.
Head Coach Sherman Corbett: With more than 20 years of playing and coaching experience, Sherman Corbett is in his seventh season at UTSA. The winningest coach in school history (188 victories), Corbett led the Roadrunners to 37 victories a year ago, the second-most in school history. In his first six seasons, he has coached a pair of 30-win squads and 24 All-SLC players, including seven first-teamers. Corbett also has mentored the 2001 SLC Pitcher of the Year (Jared Howton), 2002 SLC Player and Hitter of the Year (Mark Schramek), 2003 SLC Freshman of the Year (Ryan Crew) and two Freshman All-Americans — Crew (2003) and Michael Rockett (2006). Twelve of his Roadrunners have gone on to professional careers, including eight being selected in the MLB Draft.
