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| Senior All-American Michael Rockett just missed his second cycle in a year on Sunday. |
TULSA, Okla. ? Senior All-America center fielder Michael Rockett just missed his second cycle in a year to lead a 13-hit offensive attack and set UTSA's all-time hits record in the process and the Roadrunners ended the nation's longest active home winning streak with an 11-8 victory against Oral Roberts on Sunday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
UTSA improved to 5-3 in salvaging the final contest of this weekend's three-game series, while the Golden Eagles (5-1) lost their first tilt of the year. It was ORU's first home loss since a 19-6 setback against Dallas Baptist on March 21, 2008.
"This was a very big win for us because we needed to leave here on a positive note after dropping the first two games of the series," ninth-year head coach Sherman Corbett said. "The offense was able to get us the lead in the first, which hasn't happened very often this season, and Clay (Schrader) really settled down after giving up a couple of runs early. It was a little nerve-racking in the end, but we knew it wasn't going to be easy to get out of here with win. There's a reason they haven't lost here in nearly a year. Now we have a chance to finish the road trip with a winning record on Wednesday night in Houston."
Rockett tripled in the first, doubled in the fifth to become UTSA's career hits record holder and singled one inning later. The Sugar Land native led off the eighth needing a home run for his second career cycle, but he popped up to short and was left in the on-deck circle when junior catcher Ryan Rummel struck out to end the final frame. The 3-for-5 performance extended his hitting streak to 13 games dating back to May 16, 2008, and pushed his all-time total to 251, which is two more than Jeff Juarez, who had 249 from 1996-99.
It was exactly a year ago that he hit for just the second cycle in school history, accomplishing the feat in the first four innings of UTSA's 14-2 victory against Sacred Heart at Wolff Stadium. Rockett scored twice and also collected two of the team's season-high seven stolen bases, the program's highest total since it swiped seven in a 9-4 victory against Texas A&M on March 13, 2002.
UTSA jumped on Oral Roberts starter Jameson Dunn early and often, plating three runs in the first, two more one inning later and another in the third.
The Golden Eagles nearly matched the Roadrunners, scoring two in their half of the opening frame and one more three innings later.
The Birds extended their lead to 10-3 with a four-run fifth and appeared to be well on their way to ending a two-game losing streak.
However, ORU refused to go away, plating a run in the eighth and four more in the ninth after the Roadrunners tacked on an insurance run in the top of the stanza. The tally proved to be huge because it kept the tying run from coming up to the plate in the final inning, instead leaving it in the on-deck circle.
Senior left fielder Jose Hernandez had a double, his third homer of the season and a pair of stolen bases to go along with his two runs and two RBIs. Sophomore designated hitter Brett Aguilar went 3-for-4 with a double, walk and three runs scored, while senior shortstop Marshal Davis and junior third baseman Lance Brown added a pair of safeties apiece. Senior first baseman Aaron Powell also launched his third long ball of the year, a solo shot to lead off the third.
Freshman right-hander Clay Schrader (2-0) picked up his second vIctory of the week. The Humble native, who picked up a relief win in Tuesday's 10-4 non-conference victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, gave up three runs on four hits and walked four in his five innings of work. He also fanned six, pushing his season total to a team-leading 15 in 11.2 frames.
Dunn (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs on a half dozen hits and two walks in three innings.
UTSA concludes its five-game road trip on Wednesday night at Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Cougar Field (please note time change).