? Diamond notes (.pdf)
Games 39-41 ? April 20-22 ? Stephen F. Austin (21-18, 8-7)
3/1/1 p.m. ? Jaycees Field ? Nacogdoches, Texas
UTSA Returns To SLC Play With Three-Game Series At SFA: UTSA, winners of three in a row and four of its last five games, returns to Southland Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin. Friday’s opener is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Jaycees Field, while Saturday and Sunday’s contests are slated for 1 p.m. The Roadrunners now stand at 23-15 overall and 13-2 in league play after taking a pair of games against Texas-Pan American earlier this week (12-2, 11-1). UTSA has scored in double figures in each of the last three tilts and in five of its last seven games overall. With two wins this weekend, seventh-year head coach Sherman Corbett will reach 200 career victories. He enters this weekend with a 198-187 all-time mark.
Scouting The Lumberjacks: Stephen F. Austin, in its second season after suspending its program following the 1995 season, enters Friday’s contest with a 21-18 overall record and an 8-7 mark in SLC play. The Lumberjacks defeated Dallas Baptist, 4-3, on Wednesday night and now have won three games in a row. The Roadrunners picked up a 6-5 victory earlier this season at Al Ogletree Classic in Edinburg (March 2) and now lead the all-time series that dates back to 1992, 12-4. UTSA swept last year’s three-game set at Roadrunner Field and has won the last seven meetings between the two programs dating back to Feb. 18, 1995.
Getting Off On The Right Foot: UTSA’s success this season can be directly attributed to its solid 8-1 record in series openers. Since dropping its first lid-lifter of the year to Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2, Feb. 16), the Roadrunners have reeled off eight consecutive series-opening victories, including five in a row in SLC play.
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.
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-six of UTSA’s 41 home runs (87.8 pct.) this season have been hit during the past 21 contests. Leading the long ball parade are senior Ryan Saltzgaber and junior Zach Etheredge, both of whom have slugged all eight of their homers this year during that time. Sophomore James Keithley has launched five bombs and junior Trent Lockwood and sophomore Michael Rockett have each have left the yards four times. Lockwood, Rockett and Saltzgaber have grand slams among their homers. Also on the board are redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar and senior Mitch Ponza, both of whom have three long balls, and junior Josh Wilson, who hit a pinch-hit home run on Tuesday night against Texas-Pan American.
Season Tater Total Second-Best In Corbett Era: With 41 home runs this season, UTSA already has surpassed its season total from a year ago and it is the second-highest total of the Sherman Corbett era (highest: 55, 2004). The 41 long balls rank as the seventh-most in school history. The UTSA record is 66 set in 1999.
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.
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.
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 19-6 record, hit .330 as a team, averaged 12 hits per game and scored 8.3 runs per contest.
Red Hot Offense: After starting the year slowly, the UTSA offense has exploded the past 21 games, 16 of which have resulted in victories. The Roadrunners have scored 189 times (9.0 pg) and outscored the opposition by 84 runs during that time. UTSA has posted a .340 batting average on the strength of 261 hits (12.4 pg), slugged .589 (452 total bases) and reached base at .405 clip. Nearly 40 percent of the squad’s 261 hits (103) have gone for extra bases, including 51 doubles, 16 triples and 36 home runs. The Roadrunners also have stolen 20 bases in 26 attempts, which translates to an 77 percent success rate.
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.
Close Games: In addition to scoring runs in bunches this year, the Roadrunners have shown the knack of playing close games. Half of the club’s 38 contests 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 15-6 at home this year and now have posted a 258-176 (.594) 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 5-1 record under the lights at Roadrunner Field this year.
Blakley Throwing Strikes: Senior Josh Blakley has been as good as it gets coming out of the UTSA bullpen this season. The Lorena native has a perfect 4-0 record with one save and leads the staff with a 3.20 ERA. Blakley has appeared in 16 contests and has a sterling 37/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45 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.
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 ERA (4.65).
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.
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.
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 38 games ... leads the squad with eight home runs and 12 multi-RBI performances ... ranks second with 11 doubles, 36 RBIs, 87 total bases and a .596 slugging percentage ... hitting .342 with 17 multi-hit games, a triple and .391 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 37 games, 34 at first base and three at DH ... leads the club in batting average (.376), hits (56), multi-hit games (20), RBIs (36), total bases (92), slugging percentage (.617) and on-base percentage (.444) ... also ranks second in home runs (seven), multi-RBI contests (nine) and walks (17) ... currently on an 10-game hitting streak that began on April 3 (.381, 4 XBH, 7 RBI), his third stretch of at least eight contests this season ... has hit safely in 22 of his last 23 contests (.436 BA, 16 XBH, 24 RBIs, .713 SLG, .505 OBP) ... has 16 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 29 games at second base and nine in left field ... ranks second on the club with 36 runs, three triples and seven stolen bases... stands third with 52 hits ... also has a .325 batting average with seven doubles, six home runs and 22 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 19-6 since he moved into the leadoff spot on March 9 against the College of Charleston ... has scored a run in 19 of the past 22 games ... hitting .360 (50-139) with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs and 20 RBIs since starting the season 2-for-21 (.095) ... was 7-for-15 (.467) with eight runs scored, a double, one triple, a pair of home runs and three RBIs vs. Central Arkansas ... 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) ... 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
3B ? Ryan Saltzgaber, Sr. - 2007 preseason second-team All-SLC ... starter in all 38 contests ... has hit homers in five of his last six games and now is tied for the team lead with eight ... ranks second on the squad with 87 total bases, 18 multi-hit performances and nine multi-RBI efforts ... stands third with two triples and a .554 slugging percentage ... hitting .331 with seven doubles, 32 RBIs and five stolen bases ... has recorded at least two hits in 12 of his last 18 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 39 games ... has reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 40 of his last 43 games dating back May 22, 2006 ... leads team with 29 walks and ranks third with a .411 on-base percentage ... also has scored 26 runs, stroked five doubles and two triples and driven in 15 runs ... has seven two-hit games and a pair of career-high-tying three-hit performances (March 17 at McNeese State/April 1 vs. SE Louisiana).
CF ? Michael Rockett, So. - 2007 preseason first-team All-SLC ... leads team with 56 hits, 12 doubles and 37 RBIs ... ranks second 18 multi-hit games ... stands third with a .346 batting average and 30 runs scored ... also has a triple, four home runs and four stolen bases ... currently riding an 11-game hitting streak (.319, 4 XBH, 14 RBI) ... has recorded 12 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 35 games this year (6 LF/29 DH)... leads club with 42 runs scored and nine stolen bases ... ranks second with a .355 batting average, 11 doubles, a .433 on-base percentage and nine multi-RBI games ... also has a triple, four home runs and 30 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 ... 10 of his last 17 starts have resulted in at least two hits, including a career-best 4-for-4 performance against Texas-Pan American (April 17) ... had a career-best four RBIs on vs. Southeastern Louisiana (April 1) and matched that performance on six days later at Texas-Arlington (April 7) ... 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 3-1 record and 1.91 ERA in nine games (six starts) ... has allowed just 20 hits (.169 BAA) and struck out 30 in 33 innings of work ... defeated Texas-Pan American on Tuesday in his first start since April 1 ... allowed just one run on four hits and struck out three in seven 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 four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and fanned 22 in last five starts, which covers a span of 24.1 innings (1.48 ERA).
SP ? Blake Brannon, Sr. - Third on the team with 37 punchouts in 41 innings of work (10 starts) ... collected third win of season on Tuesday against Texas-Pan American ... allowed an unearned run on just three hits in five innings ... 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 16 games and is a perfect 4-0 record with one save and a team-best 3.20 ERA ... owns a 37/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45 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 (198 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.
