| Sophomore Tim Palincsar went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and four runs scored on Saturday. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Sophomore designated hitter Tim Palincsar went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and four runs scored to lead UTSA to a 15-4 victory against McNeese State on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. The game was called after the top of the seventh inning due to the Southland Conference's 10-run rule.
The Roadrunners improved to 11-5 overall and 2-0 in league play following their second run-rule victory in as many days, while the Cowboys saw their 2008 record drop to 3-13 (0-2 SLC).
UTSA now has won 11 of its last dozen games at the Bird Bath dating back to April 15, 2007, and 18 of its last 21 overall in the Alamo City.
All nine starters on offense had at least one hit in the 15-hit, 11-run rout with senior first baseman Trent Lockwood, junior center fielder Michael Rockett, sophomore third baseman Ryan Rummel and freshman second baseman Ryan Hutson contributing two safeties apiece. Lockwood and Rockett each drove in three, while Hutson added a pair of RBIs.
Senior right-hander Bradley Chovanec improved to 4-1 with six-plus solid innings of work. The Burton native allowed four runs, scattered 10 hits and walked just one, while striking out six Cowboys in winning for the fifth time in his last six decisions dating back to May 5, 2007. Senior Mark Ruffin recorded the final three outs of the game for the Roadrunners.
McNeese State lit up the scoreboard first for the second game in a row when Taylor Freeman brought home Shon Landry, who singled with two out in the opening inning, with a double that Rockett lost in the sun.
However, UTSA responded with a two-spot in its half of the frame when Lockwood lined an RBI triple to right center to plate Palincsar, who walked with one down. Lockwood then came home on a Scott Holstein balk one batter later.
A Lockwood sacrifice fly in the third extended the advantage to 3-1 and, after McNeese State pulled within one with a tally in the fourth, UTSA exploded for four runs on five hits in its half of the inning to push the lead to 7-2. Rockett's double down the left-field line brought home two and gave the Roadrunners all the cushion they would need.
UTSA tacked on eight more runs in the sixth on the strength of seven singles and two walks to push its lead to 15-2. The Cowboys touched Chovanec for a pair in the seventh, but by then, the game was all but over.
Holstein (0-3) was tagged for 10 runs on 11 hits in the loss. Landry went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Bryn Thompson added a pair of hits and scored one time.
The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Proudfoot (2-0, 6.32 ERA) will face Cowboys righty Jonathan Conrad (0-2, 10.95).