? Game 1 box score
? Game 2 box score
? San Antonio Express-News slideshow
| Senior Kris Ruepke allowed just two runs over 7.2 innings in Saturday's nightcap en route to his first win of the season. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior left-hander Kris Ruepke was sharp in his first start in three weeks, allowing just a pair of runs in 7.2 innings, and he helped lead UTSA to a 7-2 victory against Lamar in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
Ruepke (1-4), making his first start since March 28 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, picked up his first win of the season after scattering seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. The Adel, Iowa, native was strong early on, as he retired 12 of the first 14 hitters he faced. His only blemish of the day was a one-out home run off the bat of Cameron Campbell in the top of the fifth and 73 of his 110 pitches went for strikes.
Ruepke got all the offense he needed in the second when the Roadrunners (20-18, 10-10 SLC) plated three runs on three hits, a walk, hit by pitch and a Cardinals error.
Sophomore Ryan Hutson got the inning started with a one-out walk and freshman Jason Mohn brought him home a batter later with his double to right center. Freshman Casey Selsor followed with a run-scoring single to center and senior Marshal Davis completed the inning with his two-out base hit to right.
With the game still in doubt entering the bottom of the seventh, UTSA pushed across four insurance runs to give Ruepke all the cushion he would need. Sophomore Brett Aguilar's single through the right side of the infield extended the advantage to 5-2 and Mohn's two-RBI double down the left-field line two batters later extended the lead to five.
Davis, Mohn and senior All-American Michael Rockett each finished the contest with a pair of hits and Rockett's two knocks pushed his career total to an even 300, extending the Southland Conference record he set against Dallas Baptist on Monday.
Lamar starter Matison Smith (5-3) lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk.
The Cardinals (24-16, 11-9) picked up the game one victory after breaking open a 4-4 game with single runs in each of the final three innings for a 7-4 triumph.
Trailing 4-1 after three frames, UTSA began to chip away at the Cardinals lead with a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to tie the game.
However, Lamar took advantage of a pair of Roadrunners errors and a costly passed by junior Ryan Rummel over the final third of the contest to send the Birds to their 10th loss in the last 14 outings.
Lamar also rode the right arm of reliever Brian Needham (2-2), who held UTSA scoreless over the final 3.1 frames, allowing just four base runners while striking out a half dozen.
Junior right-hander Red Patterson (4-3) was the tough-luck loser, despite going eight innings for the third start in a row. He surrendered six runs (three earned) on nine hits, walked two and struck out just one Cardinal.
Brian Taylor went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Tyler Link added a pair of hits and crossed the dish three times to lead Lamar at the plate.
Seniors Jose Hernandez and Aaron Powell both had two hits to pace the Roadrunners.
The rubber game of the series will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Senior southpaw Andy Benedict (2-1, 3.00 ERA) will go up against Cardinals right-hander Ricky Testa (3-3, 4.76).