· Diamond notes (.pdf)
Game 26-28 • March 30-April 1 • Southeastern Louisiana (20-8, 4-2)
6/2/1 p.m. • Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, Texas
UTSA Returns Home For Key SLC Series: UTSA — winners of four in a row, eight of its last nine games and 10 of 12 overall — returns to Roadrunner Field this weekend for a key three-game Southland Conference series against Southeastern Louisiana, which begins at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Roadrunners enter the set with a 14-11 overall record and perfect 6-0 mark in the Southland Conference, their best SLC start in school history. UTSA, which scored in double figures just twice in its first 17 games, now has done so in five of its last eight contests. The Roadrunners have hit double digits in five of their six SLC games, have outscored the opposition, 69-27, and are averaging 11.5 runs per contest.
Scouting The Lions: Southeastern Louisiana collected victories on Tuesday (3-2, Alcorn State) and Wednesday (11-4, Mississippi Valley State) and now stands at 20-8 overall. The Lions took 2-of-3 games from Northwestern State last weekend and enter Friday’s contest at 4-2 in SLC play. SE Louisiana holds a slim 15-13 edge in the all-time series that dates back to the 1998 campaign, but the Roadrunners have won five of the past seven matchups. UTSA has taken 2-of-3 games in each of the past two regular seasons and also has a 9-8 victory (10 innings) in the 2005 SLC Tournament to its credit.
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.
Red Hot Offense: After starting the year slowly, the UTSA offense has exploded the past nine games, eight of which have resulted in victories. The Roadrunners have scored 88 times (9.8 pg) and outscored the opposition by 44 runs during that time. UTSA has posted a .335 batting average on the strength of 115 hits (12.8 pg), slugged an astonishing .636 (218 total bases) and reached base at .398 clip. More than 50 percent of 115 hits (58) have gone for extra bases, including 30 doubles, 11 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 nine contests. Leading the long ball parade is junior Zach Etheredge, who has slugged five in the past eight games. Sophomore James Keithley, junior Trent Lockwood and senior Ryan Saltzgaber each have hit three bombs in the last nine 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 13 consecutive games dating back to March 4. Keithley is hitting .381 (24-63) with three doubles, three triples, four home runs (.714 slugging pct.) and nine RBIs. Meanwhile, junior Trent Lockwood and senior Ryan Saltzgaber enter this weekend’s series riding 10-game hitting streaks (both began March 11). Lockwood, who hit safely in his first eight games as a Roadrunner, has a robust .524 batting average (22-42) with seven doubles, a triple, three homers (.952 slg%) and 17 RBIs. He is the only UTSA player with two streaks of eight games or better this season. Saltzgaber is hitting at a .364 clip (16-44) with two doubles, a pair of triples, three long balls (.705 slg%) and 14 RBIs during his 10-game stretch.
Close Games: The Roadrunners have shown the knack of playing close games this season. Sixteen of the club’s 25 contests (64%) this year 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.
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).
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.
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.
2007 Captains: Senior starting pitcher Josh Ruffin, junior catcher Zach Etheredge and junior shortstop Marshal Davis will serve as 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.
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 412 all-time wins, an average of nearly 27 per season.
Player Updates
C • Zach Etheredge, Jr. - Starter in all 25 games … leads the squad with eight multi-RBI performances, ranks second with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .558 slugging percentage and third with 53 total bases and 11 multi-hit efforts … also hitting .316 with six doubles, a triple and a .371 on-base percentage … had a seven-game hitting streak from March 17-27 in which he posted a .452 average (14-31) with three doubles, a triple, five home runs (1.097 slg%) and 16 RBIs … 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 24 games, 21 at first base and three at DH … leads club in batting average (.381), multi-hit games (13), home runs (six), RBIs (29), multi-RBI contests (eight), total bases (65), slugging percentage (.670) and on-base percentage (.440) … also ranks second in hits (37) and doubles (eight) … currently on a season-best 10-game hitting streak, the last eight of which have resulted in multi-hit performances … owns a .532 batting average (22-42) with seven doubles, a triple, three homers (.952 slg%) and 17 RBIs during the streak … hit safely in his first eight games as a Roadrunner (only player with two eight-game streaks this season) … had six RBIs on March 17 at McNeese State … 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 16 games at second base and nine in left field … leads team with three triples and five stolen bases, ranks second with 24 runs and 58 total bases and third with 35 hits, four home runs, a .527 slugging percentage and 11 multi-hit games … also has .318 batting average with five doubles and 15 RBIs … currently on a career-best 13-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .381 (24-63) with three doubles, three triples, four home runs (.714 slg%) and nine RBIs … squad is 10-2 since he moved into the leadoff spot on March 9 … has scored in nine games in a row … has .386 batting average (32-83) with seven two-hit games, three three-hit performances and a career-best four-hit effort (March 10) in last 18 contests … hitting .371 (33-89) 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 25 contests … ranks second on the squad with a pair of triples and third in batting average (.330), runs scored (19) and stolen bases (four) … currently on a career-high 10-game hitting streak, two of the last three of which have been three-hit efforts … hitting at a .364 clip (16-44) with two doubles, a pair of triples, three homers (.705 slg%) and 14 RBIs during the 10-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 25 games … has reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 28 of his last 29 games dating back May 22, 2006 … leads team with 22 walks and ranks third with a .414 on-base percentage … also has scored 16 runs, stroked three doubles and a triple and driven in eight 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 38 hits, 10 doubles and 13 multi-hit games, ranks second with a .352 batting average and third with 22 RBIs … also has 18 runs scored, a triple, one home run and three stolen bases … has recorded eight 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 22 games this year (5 LF/17 DH)… leads club with 26 runs scored and five stolen bases, ranks second with 11 walks and a .414 on-base percentage and is third with seven doubles … also hitting .329 with a triple, two home runs and 16 RBIs … has four consecutive games with at least two hits … has recorded a career-high three hits three times (March 3, 18 & 27) and three RBIs on two other occasions (March 10 & 27) … 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 pick is one of the best pitchers in school history … 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 his 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 resulted in 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) … has not allowed a run and fanned six in three relief appearances, which spans six innings.
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 in six innings 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).
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).
RP • Josh Blakley, Sr. - Has appeared in 11 games and leads team with 3.25 ERA … has 3-0 record with one save and has a 24/4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 27.2 innings of work … victories came vs. St. Mary’s (Feb. 26), vs. Central Arkansas (March 23) and at Texas-Pan American (March 27) … 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.
