· Diamond notes (.pdf)
Games 37-38 • April 17-18 • Texas-Pan American (15-28)
6/3 p.m. • Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, Texas
Texas-Pan American Comes To Town For Two-Game Series: UTSA, winners of seven of its last eight home contests, wraps up a five-game home stand this week when Texas-Pan American visits Roadrunner Field for a two-game set that begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Roadrunners are coming off a weekend series victory against Northwestern State and now stand at 21-15 overall and 13-2 in Southland Conference play. Wednesday’s finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the “Bird Bath.”
Scouting The Broncs: Texas-Pan American, an NCAA Division I independent program, enters Tuesday’s contest with a 15-28 mark on the year. The Broncs, who have dropped five of their last seven games, are coming off a weekend series victory against Prairie View A&M. UTSA picked up a 7-3 victory three weeks ago (March 27) and leads the all-time series, 43-29. The Roadrunners have won seven of the last nine matchups between the two programs. UTPA collected a 3-2 win earlier this season at the Al Ogletree Classic 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 25-7 all-time against the Broncs.
UTSA Dominating SLC Series Finales: The Roadrunners, off to a program-best 13-2 start in Southland Conference play (previous: 10-5/1995, 2006), has built that impressive record on the strength of five victories in series finales this season. UTSA — which has scored in double figures in nine of its 15 league games, outscored the opposition by 73 runs (139-66) and is averaging 9.3 runs per contest — has three run-rule triumphs in series finales this year. The Roadrunners defeated McNeese State, 16-2 (eight innings), on March 18; Central Arkansas, 14-1 (seven), on March 25; and Texas-Arlington, 12-1 (seven), on April 7. The Roadrunners’ lone non-run-rule wins were a nine-run triumph (14-5) against Southeastern Louisiana on April 1 and 12-10 victory against Northwestern State on Sunday.
Ten-Run Third A First Since 2005: In their 12-0 victory at Texas-Arlington on April 7, the Roadrunners scored 10 runs in the third inning, which was the first time since April 20, 2005, that UTSA crossed the plate 10 times in a frame. The Roadrunners sent 15 batters to the dish and had seven hits in the stanza, including a school-record-tying two by both junior Trent Lockwood and sophomore Michael Rockett.
Perfect Start Best Ever: UTSA began the 2007 Southland Conference season a perfect 10-0, which was its best SLC start in school history and tied for the second-best in league history. Lamar started 14-0 in 1984, while Texas-Arlington was 10-0 a year ago. UTSA’s previous best start was 4-0 in both 1994 and ’96.
Bring Out The Brooms: UTSA opened the SLC campaign with consecutive sweeps of McNeese State, Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana. The sweeps marked the first time the program’s 16-year history that the Roadrunners swept back-to-back-to-back three-game series against league opponents. UTSA now has swept SLC foes 16 times in school annals, 10 of which have come under the direction of head coach Sherman Corbett.
You Dropped A Bomb On Me: Thirty-two of UTSA’s 37 home runs (86.5 pct.) this season have been hit during the past 19 contests. Leading the long ball parade is junior Zach Etheredge, who has slugged all eight of his homers this year during that time. Senior Ryan Saltzgaber has launched six homers, while sophomore James Keithley, junior Trent Lockwood and sophomore Michael Rockett have each have hit four bombs. Lockwood, Rockett and Saltzgaber have grand slams among their homers. Also on the board are redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar and senior Mitch Ponza, who have left the yard three times.
UTSA Leaves Yard Four Times: The Roadrunners launched four home runs in their 11-3 victory against Northwestern State last Friday and it was the first time in more than two years that the program has done so. The last time UTSA hit four long balls in a contest was a 14-3 victory against Texas-Pan American on March 30, 2005.
More Homer Notes: With 37 home runs this season, UTSA already has tied its season total from a year ago and it is the second-highest total of the Sherman Corbett era (highest: 55, 2004). The school home run record is 66 set in 1999.
Lineup Changes Do The Trick: Stuck with a 4-9 record and averaging just 4.2 runs per game, head coach Sherman Corbett decided to shuffle his lineup on March 9. The seventh-year skipper moved sophomore James Keithley and redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar into the top two spots in the lineup and junior Zach Etheredge to the six hole. Since those switches, the Roadrunners have posted a 17-6 record, hit .323 as a team, averaged 11.7 hits per game and scored eight runs per contest.
Red Hot Offense: After starting the year slowly, the UTSA offense has exploded the past 19 games, 14 of which have resulted in victories. The Roadrunners have scored 166 times (8.7 pg) and outscored the opposition by 64 runs during that time. UTSA has posted a .333 batting average on the strength of 231 hits (12.2 pg), slugged .581 (403 total bases) and reached base at .398 clip. Forty-one percent of the squad’s 231 hits (94) have gone for extra bases, including 48 doubles, 14 triples and 32 home runs. The Roadrunners also have stolen 19 bases in 25 attempts, which translates to an 76 percent success rate.
Close Games: In addition to scoring runs in bunches this year, the Roadrunners have shown the knack of playing close games. Nineteen of the club’s 36 contests (52.8%) this year have been decided by three runs or less and it has a 12-7 mark in those games. UTSA has a 4-3 record in one-run tilts, a 4-3 mark in two-run contests and 4-1 record in games decided by three runs.
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 mark of 23 home wins set in 1994. The Roadrunners are 13-6 at home this year and now have posted a 256-176 (.593) all-time home record.
Hit The Lights: For the first time in school history, UTSA is playing night games at Roadrunner Field this season. Eight of the team’s 21 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 has a 4-1 record 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, College of Charleston, Houston, Rice, Texas and Texas-Arlington. UTSA has a 5-6 record against those squads this season.
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 third in innings pitched (298.1); fourth in appearances (75), victories (18), and complete games (eight); fifth in strikeouts (181); and sixth in games started (37) and earned run average (4.65).
Blakley Throwing Strikes: Senior Josh Blakley has been as good as it gets coming out of the UTSA bullpen this season. The Lorena native is a perfect 4-0 record and leads the staff with a 3.27 ERA. Blakley has appeared in 15 contests and has a sterling 36/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings. The right-hander picked up his fourth victory of the season on March 31 against Southeastern Louisiana after tossing a career-high 5.2 scoreless innings. He has gone at least four innings in seven of his appearances this season.
Roadrunners Collect 400th All-Time Victory: 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 419 all-time wins, an average of nearly 27 per season.
2007 Captains: Senior starting pitcher Josh Ruffin, junior catcher Zach Etheredge and junior shortstop Marshal Davis will serve as team captains this season.
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.
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.
Player Updates
C • Zach Etheredge, Jr. - Starter in all 36 games … leads the squad with eight home runs and 10 multi-RBI performances … ranks second with 11 doubles, 83 total bases and a .597 slugging percentage … stands third with 33 RBIs and 16 multi-hit games … also hitting .331 with a triple and .379 on-base percentage … had a career-high four hits, including a pair of solo homers, against Northwestern State (April 15) … 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 … hit .500 (5-10) with three doubles and five RBIs in the weekend sweep of Southeastern Louisiana (March 31-April 1) … 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 35 games, 32 at first base and three at DH … leads the club in batting average (.379), hits (53), multi-hit games (19), RBIs (36), total bases (88), slugging percentage (.629) and on-base percentage (.447) … also ranks second in home runs (seven), multi-RBI contests (nine) and walks (16) … currently on an eight-game hitting streak that began on April 3 (.394 3 XBH, 7 RBI), his third stretch of at least eight contests this season … has hit safely in 20 of his last 21 contests (.447 BA, 15 XBH, 24 RBIs, .741 SLG, .515 OBP) … has 15 multi-hit performances during that stretch … had a 12-game hitting streak from March 11-31 in which he posted a .510 batting average (25-49) with eight doubles, a triple, three homers (.898 slg%) and 17 RBIs … hit safely in his first eight games as a Roadrunner … tied a school record with two hits in the third inning on April 7 at Texas-Arlington … had a career-high six RBIs on March 17 at McNeese State … earned SLC Hitter of the Week honors on April 16 after hitting .438 (7-16) with a double, one triple, a home run and five RBIs … 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 27 games at second base and nine in left field … ranks second with 34 runs, three triples and seven stolen bases… stands third with 49 hits … also has a .320 batting average with six doubles, five home runs and 20 RBIs … had a career-best 19-game hitting streak snapped on April 7 at Texas-Arlington … hit .400 (36-90) with four doubles, three triples, five home runs (.678 slg%) and 13 RBIs during that stretch … squad is 17-6 since he moved into the leadoff spot on March 9 against the College of Charleston … has scored a run in 17 of the past 20 games … hitting .356 (47-132) with six doubles, three triples, five home runs and 18 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 vs. Central Arkansas … 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
3B • Ryan Saltzgaber, Sr. - 2007 preseason second-team All-SLC … starter in all 36 contests … ranks third on the squad with 16 multi-hit performances, two triples and six home runs … hitting .322 with seven doubles, 27 RBIs and five stolen bases … has homered in three of the past four contests and recorded at least two hits in 10 of his last 16 tilts … had a career-high 10-game hitting streak from March 11-27 … hit at a .364 clip (16-44) with two doubles, a pair of triples, three homers (.705 slg%) and 14 RBIs during that stretch … has a quartet of three-hit performances this year … 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
SS • Marshal Davis, Jr. - Starter in all 36 games … has reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 37 of his last 40 games dating back May 22, 2006 … leads team with 28 walks and ranks third with a .406 on-base percentage … also has scored 24 runs, stroked five doubles and two triples and driven in 13 runs … has six two-hit games and a pair of career-high-tying three-hit performances (March 17 at McNeese State/April 1 vs. Southeastern Louisiana).
CF • Michael Rockett, So. - 2007 preseason first-team All-SLC … leads team with 53 hits and 12 doubles … ranks second with a .344 batting average, 17 multi-hit games and 35 RBIs … stands third with 28 runs scored and 79 total bases … also has a triple, four home runs and four stolen bases … has recorded 11 two-hit games, five three-hit performances and a career-high-tying four-hit effort vs. Central Arkansas (March 24) … tied a school record with two hits in the third inning on April 7 at Texas-Arlington … had his first career grand slam and a career-high five RBIs at No. 6 Texas (April 3) … also has a pair of four-RBI efforts (Feb. 27, vs. Houston/March 25, vs. Central Arkansas) … was 10-for-13 (.769) with two doubles, a triple, his first homer of the season and six RBIs in the three-game sweep of Central Arkansas … 2006 Freshman All-America and second-team All-SLC selection.
LF/DH • Tim Palincsar, Fr. - Starter in 33 games this year (5 LF/28 DH)… leads club with 40 runs scored and nine stolen bases … ranks second with 11 doubles, 16 walks and a .419 on-base percentage … is third with a .333 batting average, eight multi-RBI games and a .527 slugging percentage … also has a triple, four home runs and 27 RBIs … had a career-high 13-game hitting streak from March 21-April 10 in which he had a .415 (22-53) batting average with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs (.755 slugging pct.) and 18 RBIs … also reached base at a .492 clip and stole five bases during that stretch … eight of his last 15 starts have resulted in at least two hits … had a career-best four RBIs on April 1 vs. Southeastern Louisiana and matched that performance on April 7 at Texas-Arlington … has recorded a career-high three hits five times this year (March 3, 18, 27 & April 1, 15) … 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 42 strikeouts in a staff-best 62.2 innings and also has five quality starts and two complete games … is 4-2 with 5.17 ERA in his 10 starting assignments … allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits and fanned four in complete game win against Northwestern State (April 13) … went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs, in earning win at Texas Arlington (April 5) … 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 the squad with 38 strikeouts and ranks second with 4.43 ERA in 61 innings … has appeared in 13 games with nine starts and has a 2-4 record this season … tossed a complete-game five-hitter (one run) and struck out five against Southeastern Louisiana (March 31) … 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 start on Feb. 17 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 K) … has allowed just one run and fanned six in four relief appearances (9 IP).
SP • Ryan Proudfoot, Fr. - Has 2-1 record and 2.08 ERA in eight games (five starts) … has allowed just 16 hits (.167 BAA) and struck out 27 in 26 innings … picked up a pair of wins during the week of March 19-25 … 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 three runs (two earned) on six hits and fanned 19 in last four starts, which covers a span of 17.1 innings (1.05 ERA).
SP • Blake Brannon, Sr. - Fourth on the team with 34 punchouts in 36 innings of work (nine starts) … tossed five scoreless frames and fanned five at Texas-Arlington (April 7) … allowed two runs and struck out six in seven innings 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 15 games and is a perfect 4-0 record with a team-best 3.27 ERA … also has one save and a 36/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 44 innings of work … fanned a career-high six in victory against St. Mary’s (Feb. 26) … tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, a career high, against Southeastern Louisiana (March 31) … has gone at least four innings in seven contests and 3.1 innings in another.
RP • J.T. Mackey, Jr. - Sports a 5-2 mark with three saves … has recorded a 4.11 ERA in 19 games (one start) and has struck out 25 in 30.2 innings of work … made first career start at No. 13 Texas A&M … picked up team-best fifth win of season with 2.2 scoreless frames against Northwestern State (April 15) … collected fourth victory with a career-high 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 … first UTSA victory came after two scoreless innings against Stephen F. Austin (March 2) … earned first save against St. Mary’s (Feb. 26) … saved the Roadrunners’ 6-3 victories at Texas-Arlington (April 5) and against Southeastern Louisiana (March 31).
RP • Zach Calhoon, Fr. - Has a 2-1 record with squad-best four saves in 16 appearances … has a 2.33 ERA and allowed just 10 hits (.159 BAA), while striking out 28 in 19.1 innings … named SLC Pitcher of the Week on March 5 after posting a win (vs. Houston) and a save (vs. Stephen F. Austin) … struck out career-high five in 4.2 innings vs. Cougars (Feb. 27) … collected his second victory of the season vs. Southeastern Louisiana (April 1) … 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 (196 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.
