· Diamond notes (.pdf)
Games 30-32 • April 5-7 • Texas-Arlington (9-22, 0-9)
6:30/6:30/1 p.m. • Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, Texas
UTSA Continues Five-Game Road Swing In Metroplex: UTSA continues its five-game road trip on Thursday when it begins a three-game Southland Conference series at Texas-Arlington. The Roadrunners enter the weekend set with a 17-12 overall record and perfect 9-0 mark in the Southland Conference, their best SLC start in school history. UTSA saw its season-high seven-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday with a 14-9 loss at No. 6 Texas. The Roadrunners, who scored in double figures just twice in their first 17 games, now have done so in six of the last 12 contests. UTSA also has registered double-digit hits in its last nine tilts (13.7 per game) and in 11 of the last 12 games overall to raise its season batting average to .307.
Scouting The Mavericks: Texas-Arlington lost three games at Sam Houston State last weekend and now stands at 9-22 overall and 0-9 in league play. The Mavericks enter the three-game series having lost 12 consecutive contests overall. UTA leads the all-time series that dates back to the 1993 season, 31-21, but the Roadrunners have won four of the last six regular season meetings between the two schools. The Mavericks eliminated UTSA in last year’s SLC Tournament by a score of 2-1 en route to the conference championship.
Perfect Start Best Ever: The Roadrunners — off to a perfect 9-0 start in the Southland Conference after consecutive sweeps against McNeese State, Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana the past three weekends — are off to their best SLC start in school history and the third best in league history (Lamar, 14-0, 1984/Texas-Arlington, 10-0, 2006) . 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-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. The Roadrunners have hit double digits in six of their nine SLC games, have outscored the opposition by 60 runs (94-34) and are averaging 10.4 runs per league contest.
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 13-3 record, hit .337 as a team and scored an average of 8.6 runs per contest. With the improved offense putting up runs in bunches, the pitching staff has responded with a 4.01 ERA, struck out 122 in 146 innings of work and allowed opponents to hit just .269.
We’re Going Streaking: Two Roadrunners currently are enjoying career-best hitting streaks. Sophomore James Keithley has hit safely in 17 consecutive games dating back to March 4. Keithley is hitting .383 (31-81) with four doubles, three triples, five home runs (.691 slugging pct.) and 12 RBIs. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar is riding a nine-game streak in which he is hitting .472 (17-36) with five doubles, one triple, a pair of home runs (.833 slugging pct.) and 12 RBIs. Palincsar also is reaching base at a .558 clip and he has stolen three bases during the last nine contests.
Red Hot Offense: After starting the year slowly, the UTSA offense has exploded the past 13 games, 11 of which have resulted in victories. The Roadrunners have scored 122 times (9.4 pg) and outscored the opposition by 55 runs during that time. UTSA has posted a .346 batting average on the strength of 168 hits (12.9 pg), slugged an astonishing .614 (298 total bases) and reached base at .407 clip. Forty-four percent of the squad’s 168 hits (74) have gone for extra bases, including 40 doubles, 12 triples and 22 home runs. The Roadrunners also have stolen 14 bases in 17 attempts, which translates to an 82.4 percent success rate.
You Dropped A Bomb On Me: Twenty-two of UTSA’s 27 home runs (81.4 pct.) this season have been hit during the past 13 contests. Leading the long ball parade is junior Zach Etheredge, who has slugged six in the past 12 games. Sophomore James Keithley has launched four, while junior Trent Lockwood and senior Ryan Saltzgaber each have hit three bombs. Lockwood and Saltzgaber have grand slams among their three homers. Also on the board are redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar, senior Mitch Ponza and sophomore Michael Rockett, all three of whom have left the yard twice during the past 13 contests. Rockett has a grand slam among his two long balls.
Close Games: The Roadrunners have shown the knack of playing close games this season. Seventeen of the club’s 29 contests (58.6%) this year have been decided by three runs or less and it has a 10-7 mark in those games. UTSA has a 4-3 record in one-run tilts, a 3-3 mark in two-run contests and 3-1 record in games decided by three runs.
No Freebies From Chovanec: Junior Bradley Chovanec has been the Roadrunners’ most consistent starter this season and that is best seen in his 35/8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his team-best 49.1 innings (10 games/seven starts). Chovanec, who has a 2-2 record and 3.47 ERA this season, is averaging just 1.1 walks per start and the Burton native has yet to issue a free pass or allow a run in any of his three relief outings this year (six innings). Four of his last five starts have resulted in quality starts. He has earned both his victories this season, posted a 2.43 ERA and recorded a 20/5 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch.
Blakley Throwing Strikes: Senior Josh Blakley has been as good as it gets coming out of the UTSA bullpen this season. The Lorena native leads the team with a perfect 4-0 record and 3.12 ERA. Blakley has appeared in 13 contests and has a sterling 28/5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34.2 innings. The right-hander picked up his fourth victory of the season last Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana after tossing a career-high 5.2 scoreless innings.
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 (73) and innings pitched (281.2), sixth in strikeouts (174), eighth in games started (33) and ninth in earned run average (4.76).
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 11-5 at home this year and now have posted a 254-175 (.592) 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 3-1 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, The College of Charleston, Houston, Rice, Texas and Texas-Arlington. UTSA has a 3-5 record against those squads 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.
2007 Captains: Senior starting pitcher Josh Ruffin, junior catcher Zach Etheredge and junior shortstop Marshal Davis will serve as team captains this season.
Player Updates
C • Zach Etheredge, Jr. - Starter in all 29 games … leads the squad with six home runs, 30 RBIs and 10 multi-RBI performances … ranks second with nine doubles and a .591 slugging percentage … is third on the squad with 65 total bases and 13 multi-hit efforts … also hitting .327 with a triple and a .382 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 … hit .500 (5-10) with three doubles and five RBIs in last weekend’s sweep of Southeastern Louisiana … 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 28 games, 25 at first base and three at DH … leads club in batting average (.369), home runs (six), total bases (70), slugging percentage (.631) and on-base percentage (.441) … also ranks second in doubles (nine), multi-hit games (14), RBIs (29), multi-RBI contests (eight) and walks (13) … is third with 41 hits … had a 12-game hitting streak from March 11-31 … posted a .510 batting average (25-49) with eight doubles, a triple, three homers (.898 slg%) and 17 RBIs in those 12 tilts … 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 20 games at second base and nine in left field … leads team with three triples and six stolen bases … ranks second with 28 runs, five home runs and 69 total bases … stands third with 42 hits and a .539 slugging percentage … also has a .328 batting average with 13 multi-hit contests, six doubles and 18 RBIs … currently on a career-best 17-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .383 (31-81) with four doubles, three triples, five home runs (.691 slg%) and 12 RBIs … squad is 13-3 since he moved into the leadoff spot on March 9 … has scored a run in 12 of the past 13 games … has .386 batting average (39-101) with eight two-hit games, four three-hit performances and a career-best four-hit effort (March 10) in last 22 contests … hitting .374 (40-107) 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 29 contests … ranks third on the squad with 41 hits, two triples and four stolen bases … hitting .339 with seven doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs … 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 13 multi-hit games this season, including four three-hit performances … 2006 honorable mention All-SLC.
SS • Marshal Davis, Jr. - Starter in all 29 games … has reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 31 of his last 33 games dating back May 22, 2006 … leads team with 23 walks and ranks third with a .409 on-base percentage … also has scored 19 runs, stroked three doubles and a triple and driven in 10 runs … has five 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 44 hits, 11 doubles and 15 multi-hit games, ranks second with a .355 batting average and third with 24 runs scored and 28 RBIs … also has a triple, two home runs and three stolen bases … has recorded nine two-hit games, five three-hit performances and a career-high-tying four-hit effort vs. Central Arkansas (March 24) … 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 (vs. Houston, Feb. 22/vs. Central Arkansas, March 25) … 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 UCA … 2006 Freshman All-America and second-team All-SLC selection.
LF/DH • Tim Palincsar, Fr. - Starter in 26 games this year (5 LF/21 DH)… leads club with 31 runs scored and six stolen bases … ranks second with 13 walks and a .431 on-base percentage … is third with a .347 batting average … also has eight doubles, a triple, three home runs and 20 RBIs … riding a career-high nine-game hitting streak in which he has a .472 (17-36) batting average with five doubles, one triple, a pair of home runs (.833 slugging pct.) and 12 RBIs … also has reached base at a .558 clip and stolen three bases during the last nine contests … six of his last eight starts have resulted in at least two hits … had a career-best four RBIs on April 1 vs. Southeastern Louisiana … has recorded a career-high three hits four times this year (March 3, 18, 27 & April 1) … 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 35 strikeouts in 46 innings and also has three quality starts … is 2-2 with 6.07 ERA in his eight starting assignments … 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. - Leads the squad with 35 strikeouts (just seven walks) and ranks second with 3.47 ERA in team-high 49.1 innings … has appeared in 10 games with seven starts and has won his last two starts for a 2-2 record this season … four of last five starting assignments have resulted in quality starts … 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 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 2.25 ERA in seven games (five starts) … has allowed just 15 hits (.169 BAA) and struck out 24 in 24 innings … picked up a pair of wins two weeks ago … 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. - Third on the team with 29 punchouts in 30.1 innings of work … sports 1-4 record in his seven 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 13 games and leads team with a 4-0 record and 3.12 ERA … also has one save and a 28/5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34.2 innings of work … victories have come vs. St. Mary’s (Feb. 26), vs. Central Arkansas (March 23), at Texas-Pan American (March 27) and vs. Southeastern Louisiana (March 31) … collected lone save of year vs. the College of Charleston (March 9) … fanned a career-high six vs. St. Mary’s … tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, a career high, against Southeastern Louisiana (March 31) … has gone at least four innings in five contests and 3.1 innings in another.
RP • J.T. Mackey, Jr. - Squad’s top setup man sports a 4-1 mark with two saves and a 3.80 ERA in 16 games … has struck out 21 in 23.2 innings of work … collected fourth win of year 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 … picked up first UTSA victory with two scoreless innings against Stephen F. Austin (March 2) … earned first save against St. Mary’s (Feb. 26) … saved the Roadrunners’ 6-3 victory against Southeastern Louisiana (March 31).
RP • Zach Calhoon, Fr. - Has emerged has team’s closer … sports a 2-1 record with three saves in 12 appearances … has a 2.25 ERA and allowed just eight hits (.151 BAA), while striking out 26 in 16.0 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 (192 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.
