HUNTSVILLE ? Senior Josh Ruffin scattered 11 hits and held Sam Houston State to just one run and junior Trent Lockwood launched his eighth homer of the season, as the UTSAbaseball team won Friday's series opener, 4-2, at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Roadrunners improved to 25-18 overall and 15-4 in Southland Conferenceplay with the victory, while the Bearkats dropped to 27-17 and 11-8.
Ruffin (5-2) struck out five in winning his fourth consecutive decision. Freshman Zach Calhoon gave up a run in the ninth but was able to pick up his team-leadingfifth save of the season.
Offensively, the Roadrunners were led by senior RyanSaltzgaber, who went 3-for-4. Sophomores James Keithley andMichael Rockett and junior Phillip Allen added two hits apiece.
UTSA struck first when Saltzgaber led off the second with single to left, advanced to third on a base hit by junior ZachEtheredge and an error by Sam Houston State and came home on senior Mitch Ponza's RBI groundout to short.
Two innings later, the Roadrunners added a tally whenAllen's two-out single to right brought home Ponza from second base. Ponza reached on a fielder's choice and stole his second base of the season to move into scoring position.
SamHoustonState cut the deficit to one when Jeremy Holzbach’s sacrifice fly scored Austin Boggs in the bottom of the fourth.
Lockwood’s shot over the left fieldwall in the sixth pushed the UTSA lead to 3-1 and the Roadrunners added an insurance run in the ninth when Allenled off the frame with a triple to right followed by a Keithleysingle to left.
However, the Bearkats made things interesting in their half of the ninth. Clint Mann drew a one-out walk and back-to-back singlesby Bobby Verbick and Karl Krailo allowed Mann to come around and score.However, Calhoon quelled the rally by striking out NickZaleski to give the Roadrunners the two-run triumph.
Bearkats starter Jacob Howard (8-4) tossed five innings, allowing three runs on nine hits.
The victory was the 200th of head coach Sherman Corbett's career. The seventh-year skipper now has a 200-190 record.
The series continues on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.