| Junior Red Patterson faced just three hitters over the minimum on Friday night. |
HUNTSVILLE ? Junior right-hander Red Patterson tossed a four-hit shutout and UTSA ended its three-game losing streak with a 12-0 win at Sam Houston State on Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium. The game was called after the seventh inning due to the Southland Conference's run rule.
Patterson (2-2), who faced just three hitters over the minimum and did not allow a runner to reach second base until there were two down in the seventh, allowed just four singles and tied his season high with eight strikeouts in the 72-pitch gem (54 strikes). The Frisco native retired the side in order three times and completely stifled a Bearkats' squad that came into the contest hitting an SLC-best .332 as a team, averaging nearly 7.9 runs and 12.3 hits per game. It was the first shutout by a Roadrunners starter since southpaw Kris Ruepke tossed a three-hitter against Stephen F. Austin on April 20 a year ago (a span of 38 games).
"I was spotting up on the corners and was effective because I was able to come inside tonight," Patterson said after the game. "My slider was breaking really well and being able to throw my curve over for strikes really helped me keep their hitters honest on the slider. The atmosphere we created in the dugout and on offense and defense tonight really helped me back things up on the mound. Once we got in front, we never looked back and that's what we need to do every game. That's a good ballclub over there and I knew I was going to have to be on my game in order to be successful."
Meanwhile, UTSA (11-8, 4-3 SLC) lit up a trio of Sam Houston State hurlers for its second-most runs of the spring on 15 hits, three walks and two hit by pitches. Every starter on offense reached base on the night and eight had at least one hit.
Senior Aaron Powell and sophomore Tyler Carpenter led the way with three hits apiece and Powell scored three times and drove home a pair. Seniors Marshal Davis and Jose Hernandez and sophomore Brett Aguilar each added two safeties, while junior Lance Brown brought home a pair.
The Roadrunners got things going in the top of the third, scoring two unearned runs. Hernandez led off with a walk and Powell followed with a base hit through the left side of the infield. The two then came home when Beakats starter Jacob Howard sailed his throw to first when Aguilar laid down a bunt in front of the plate.
UTSA extended the lead to a half dozen with a four-spot one inning later on the strength of six hits and a walk. Six more runs crossed the plate in the fifth and the rout was on.
Howard (2-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in just 2.1 innings.
Sam Houston State (14-6, 5-2 SLC) had won seven of eight entering the contest and it was its most-lopsided loss of the season.
UTSA now has won 10 of the last 11 regular season matchups between the two programs dating back to the 2006 campaign.
The series continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ruepke (0-2, 8.10 ERA) will square off against right-hander Dallas Gallant (1-2, 8.06).