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| Senior Marshal Davis had two triples and four RBIs on Saturday, both of which were career highs. |
SAN ANTONIO ? UTSA rallied from an early 6-0 deficit and senior shortstop Marshal Davis went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples and a career-high four RBIs to lead the Roadrunners to a 13-12 victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at the Bird Bath.
It was the sixth come-from-behind triumph of the year for UTSA (8-3, 2-0 SLC) and they opened the league slate with back-to-back wins for the third year in a row. The Roadrunners have scored in double figures in each of the last four games and six times in 11 contests this spring, all of which have resulted in victories.
The Lions (6-5, 0-2 SLC) roughed up UTSA starter Kris Ruepke early on, plating six runs on four hits and a costly error by freshman second baseman Matthew James in their half of the third. Josh Cryer had the big blow of the frame when he delivered a towering three-run home run to left center with two down.
It wasn't long before the Roadrunners began to chip away at the six-run deficit, as they scored five runs in the fourth and five more an inning later.
Junior catcher Ryan Rummel began the rally when he singled off Southeastern Louisiana starter Brandon Efferson to lead off the fourth. James followed with a double to left center and Davis then lifted a fly ball to left that brought home Rummel with UTSA's first tally of the afternoon. Junior right fielder Tyler Carpenter brought home another run with his base hit up the middle and sophomore first baseman Brett Aguilar was then walked to bring up All-America center fielder Michael Rockett. The senior blasted a 1-1 offering from Efferson over the scoreboard in left for his fifth long ball of the year and 28th of his career, which put him in sole possession of fourth place on the program's all-time list.
Junior Lance Brown began the next frame with a two-bagger down the left-field line and James reached on a throwing error by Lions third baseman Chris Franklin two batters later. Davis followed with his first triple of the day and that gave UTSA its first lead at 7-6. The Roadrunners went on to tack on three insurance runs and took a four-run lead.
The Lions regained the advantage with a five-run seventh, but UTSA pushed a pair across the plate in its half of the inning off Franklin to go back in front, 12-11. However, Southeastern Louisiana refused to go away, as Ty Summerlin came home with the tying run on a passed ball by Rummel with two down.
The Roadrunners went in front for good in the bottom of the eighth. Rummel singled to lead off the inning, stole second and advanced to third when Cryer's throw was high and went into center field. After James struck out looking, Davis laced his second triple of the day into left center to put UTSA back in front.
Junior right-handed closer Zach Calhoon, who blew his first save of the season in the eighth, responded by setting down the Lions in order to close out the one-run win. The preseason All-American picked up his first win of the year with two scoreless innings.
Franklin, who gave up the game-winning run, dropped to 1-1 on the year.
Rockett was 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak dating back to May 16, 2008, to a career-high 16 games. Carpenter added a pair of safeties to push his streak to a personal-best 12 contests. Senior Jose Hernandez continued his hot-hitting ways by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and James and Rummel added a pair of hits apiece.
Cryer and Cody Gougler both had two hits and three RBIs to lead Southeastern Louisiana at the plate.
Efferson surrendered 10 runs (six earned) on 10 hits and four walks, but he fanned seven in 4.1 innings. Ruepke wasn't much better, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits in his six-plus innings of work.
The Roadrunners will go after their 11th conference sweep in the last two-plus years when the three-game series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Freshman right-hander Clay Schrader (2-0, 3.86 ERA) will square off against righty Josh Janway (2-0, 2.19)
It was the sixth come-from-behind triumph of the year for UTSA (8-3, 2-0 SLC) and they opened the league slate with back-to-back wins for the third year in a row. The Roadrunners have scored in double figures in each of the last four games and six times in 11 contests this spring, all of which have resulted in victories.
The Lions (6-5, 0-2 SLC) roughed up UTSA starter Kris Ruepke early on, plating six runs on four hits and a costly error by freshman second baseman Matthew James in their half of the third. Josh Cryer had the big blow of the frame when he delivered a towering three-run home run to left center with two down.
It wasn't long before the Roadrunners began to chip away at the six-run deficit, as they scored five runs in the fourth and five more an inning later.
Junior catcher Ryan Rummel began the rally when he singled off Southeastern Louisiana starter Brandon Efferson to lead off the fourth. James followed with a double to left center and Davis then lifted a fly ball to left that brought home Rummel with UTSA's first tally of the afternoon. Junior right fielder Tyler Carpenter brought home another run with his base hit up the middle and sophomore first baseman Brett Aguilar was then walked to bring up All-America center fielder Michael Rockett. The senior blasted a 1-1 offering from Efferson over the scoreboard in left for his fifth long ball of the year and 28th of his career, which put him in sole possession of fourth place on the program's all-time list.
Junior Lance Brown began the next frame with a two-bagger down the left-field line and James reached on a throwing error by Lions third baseman Chris Franklin two batters later. Davis followed with his first triple of the day and that gave UTSA its first lead at 7-6. The Roadrunners went on to tack on three insurance runs and took a four-run lead.
The Lions regained the advantage with a five-run seventh, but UTSA pushed a pair across the plate in its half of the inning off Franklin to go back in front, 12-11. However, Southeastern Louisiana refused to go away, as Ty Summerlin came home with the tying run on a passed ball by Rummel with two down.
The Roadrunners went in front for good in the bottom of the eighth. Rummel singled to lead off the inning, stole second and advanced to third when Cryer's throw was high and went into center field. After James struck out looking, Davis laced his second triple of the day into left center to put UTSA back in front.
Junior right-handed closer Zach Calhoon, who blew his first save of the season in the eighth, responded by setting down the Lions in order to close out the one-run win. The preseason All-American picked up his first win of the year with two scoreless innings.
Franklin, who gave up the game-winning run, dropped to 1-1 on the year.
Rockett was 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak dating back to May 16, 2008, to a career-high 16 games. Carpenter added a pair of safeties to push his streak to a personal-best 12 contests. Senior Jose Hernandez continued his hot-hitting ways by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and James and Rummel added a pair of hits apiece.
Cryer and Cody Gougler both had two hits and three RBIs to lead Southeastern Louisiana at the plate.
Efferson surrendered 10 runs (six earned) on 10 hits and four walks, but he fanned seven in 4.1 innings. Ruepke wasn't much better, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits in his six-plus innings of work.
The Roadrunners will go after their 11th conference sweep in the last two-plus years when the three-game series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Freshman right-hander Clay Schrader (2-0, 3.86 ERA) will square off against righty Josh Janway (2-0, 2.19)