March 18, 2006
Box Score
BEAUMONT - After pounding out 18 hits in Friday's 13-3 win, Lamar University found the going much tougher Saturday at Texas-San Antonio right-hander Josh Ruffin limited the Cardinals to just two hits as the Roadrunners 3-0 shut out in Southland Conference baseball action at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Lamar dropped to 14-10 overall and 3-2 in SLC play. UTSA improved to 13-8 overall and evened its record at 1-1 in SLC play. The Cardinals and Roadrunners will play the rubber game of the series today at 1 p.m.
Junior left-hander Derrick Gordon, who is 2-2 with a 4.28 earned run average, will take the mound for the Cardinals. Blake Brannon, who is 3-4 with a 4.25 ERA, is expected to start for the Roadrunners.
UTSA struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. J.R. Voyles doubled to left center with one out. He advanced to second on a throwing error by Lamar pitcher William Delage and scored on Michael McKennon's RBI ground out.
The Roadrunners added another run in the top of the third inning. Michael Rockett singled through the left side of the infield and stole second base. Voyles, who was 3-for-4, drove in Rockett with a single to right center to make the score 2-0.
UTSA added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Rockett, who was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, singled through the left side and stole second. He moved to third on a ground out to third by Marshall Davis. Rockett scored on a balk by Delage to put the Roadrunners up 3-0.
Lamar had only two real threats to score, which came in the second and third innings. C.J. Ebarb reached on a throwing error by Davis at shortstop and Will Henderson followed by reaching on a fielding error by Davis. Matt Lambeth struck out and Jo Jo Haney hit into an inning-ending double play.
Erik Kanaby and Ryan Baker each drew a walk with one out in the third inning. Collin Delome followed by hitting into a fielder's choice and Dan Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning.
After the two walks, Ruffin settled down and retired the next 13 batters before Lambeth got Lamar's first hit of the game with two outs in the bottom of the second in a clean single up the middle. Pinch-hitter Cory Zimmerman led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single to right field. Kanaby and Baker both grounded out, and DeLome flied out to center field to end the inning.
Ruffin (3-1) pitched a complete-game, allowing no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. He retired the Cardinals in order in four innings, including the bottom of the ninth. Delage (4-2) took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk in seven innings pitched.
