? Box score
HUNTSVILLE ? UTSA picked up its fourth Southland Conference sweep of the season with a 5-1 victory at Sam Houston State on Sunday at Don Sanders Stadium. The Roadrunners improved to 27-18 overall and 17-4 in SLC play, while the Bearkats dropped to 27-19 on the year and 11-10 in conference action.
UTSA put up a two-spot in the first when senior Mitch Ponza drew a one-out walk, stole second and back-to-back errors allowed Ponza and sophomore Michael Rockett to cross the plate.
However, Sam Houston State cut the advantage in half in the bottom of the frame. Clint Mann led off with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on a single by Karl Krailo and came home on Bobby Verbick’s sacrifice fly to right.
The Roadrunners increased the lead to 3-1 in the second when junior Marshal Davis drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on sophomore James Keithley's RBI single up the middle.
UTSA increased its lead 5-1 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Senior Josh Blakley (5-0) tossed 4.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief of starter Blake Brannon.
Junior Zach Etheredge and Keithley led the Roadrunners with two hits apiece.
Bearkats starter Jon Lindenberger (2-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks and struck out two in four innings of work.
UTSA returns to the friendly confines of Roadrunner Field on Friday, May 4, when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a three-game series.
