| Junior Zach Calhoon saved the 22nd game of his career on Sunday (photo courtesy of Michael Clements, UT Arlington Athletics). |
HUNTSVILLE ? UTSA scored four runs in the seventh to rally for an 8-6 victory and the Roadrunners finished off a three-game sweep at Sam Houston State on Sunday afternoon.
UTSA (13-8, 6-3 SLC), which posted its ninth comeback win of the spring, swept the Bearkats for the fourth consecutive year and now have been triumphant in 12 of the last 13 regular season matchups between the two schools. The loss was a season-high third in a row for Sam Houston State (14-8, 5-4 SLC). The victory also vaulted the Roadrunners into a three-way tie for first place in the Southland Conference standings with Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State.
"This was obviously a big weekend for us to get things turned around and we did just that," ninth-year head coach Sherman Corbett said after the game. "We specifically stayed at home on Thursday so we could get a good practice in and I think the guys bought into it. We really came out and executed well for the most part this weekend, but there is still room for improvement. Hopefully, this will be the start of a long run of success for us as we enter a critical stretch in our season."
After third baseman Ryan Mooney gave the Bearkats their first lead of the weekend with a three-run home run off the left field scoreboard with one down in the sixth, UTSA exploded for four runs on three hits, a walk and costly leadoff error by Mooney.
After Davis reached on the miscue, senior All-America center fielder Michael Rockett followed with a single to right center and senior designated hitter Jose Hernandez walked to load the bases. Senior left fielder Aaron Powell then hit a blooper down the right-field line that brought home Davis and tied the game at five. Sophomore first baseman Brett Aguilar, who entered the game as a defensive replacement an inning earlier, followed with a double to right center to bring home two more and freshman right fielder Jason Mohn's sacrifice fly to deep center completed the four-run rally.
That made a winner of freshman southpaw Casey Selsor (4-1), who gave up two runs on five hits, including Mooney's long ball in the sixth, and he struck out three in two innings out of the bullpen. Junior closer Zach Calhoon got the final five outs of the contest for his third save (first since Feb. 22) in five chances this season and 22nd of his career.
Sean Weatherford (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing the four seventh-inning runs (two earned) on three hits and a pair of walks in 1.2 frames.
Davis got things going for UTSA in the first when he singled up the middle with one out. After Rockett drew a walk, Hernandez dropped a base hit into left and that loaded bases. Powell then chopped an 0-2 pitch from Sam Houston State starter Brent Powers through the ride side of the infield and that plated Davis and Rockett for the first runs of the contest.
UTSA tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth on Rockett's run-scoring fielder's choice to short and Hernandez' RBI single to left and the Birds looked to be in control.
However, the Bearkats began to chip away with two unearned runs in the fifth.
Braeden Riley stroked a run-scoring base hit up the middle following a two-out error by freshman first baseman Matthew James. Sam Houston State then got another run when junior third baseman Lance Brown threw a ball in the dirt to James on a ground ball hit by Nick Zaleski.
Powell went 2-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Roadrunners, while Davis and Hernandez added two hits apiece and they extended their hitting streaks to seven and six games, respectively.
Zaleski had three hits to lead the Bearkats on offense.
Freshman starter Clay Schrader scattered eight hits and allowed four runs (two earned) in his 5.1 frames. The Humble native struck out five and walked one in his third no decision of the season.
Powers gave up four runs (three earned) on a half dozen hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work.
UTSA returns home for the first time in two weeks when it hosts Texas-Pan American (5-17) on Tuesday, March 24, at Roadrunner Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and the Birds have won 13 of their last 16 matchups with the Broncs dating back to April 13, 2004.