Behind the pitching efforts of freshman Justin Breaux and sophomore Ray Labat, the Colonels were able to win the final game of a three-game series with the University of Texas-San Antonio in action at Raymond E. Didier Field on Sunday.Breaux (1-3) pitched 6.2 innings, scattering three hits while walking five and striking out five. Labat pitched the final 2.1 innings, walking one and striking out two to record his first save of the season.
“Justin Breaux did an outstanding job pitching today,” Colonel head baseball coach B.D. Parker said. “He kept the ball down in the zone. We made some nice plays behind him. I think we rolled four double plays. That’s always big when you can do that, and then Ray Labat was outstanding in relief.”
Caleb Barton (2-5) was tagged with the loss for UTSA despite pitching a complete game. He went eight innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
The Colonels (15-18, 3-9 SLC) scored both of their runs in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, sophomore designated hitter Thomas Bourne tripled to right field, scoring junior first baseman Keith Delahoussaye for the first run of the ball game. The relay throw by second baseman J.R. Voyles ended up in left field, allowing Bourne score and increase the Colonels lead to 2-0.
“We didn’t get many opportunities today, but we took advantage of the ones we got,” Parker said. “Tommy Bourne had a great at bat and was thinking triple the whole way. When the ball got away, he was alert enough to be able to score the second run of the game.”
“Caleb Barton threw an outstanding game,” UTSA head baseball coach Sherman Corbett said. “He probably missed the location on the pitch he threw to Bourne that he tripled down the line by about two to three inches, and that ended up pretty much being the ball game. (I) give them credit. They took advantage of that.”
The Roadrunners (13-21, 7-5 SLC) had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, but Breaux struck out designated hitter Brandon Koger to end the threat.
UTSA had another opportunity to push across a run in the top of the sixth, but first baseman Lee Todesco flied out to right field for the third out, stranding Koger at third base.
The Roadrunners had another bases loaded two-out situation in the bottom of the seventh inning. After retiring the first two batters in order, Breaux ran into some trouble.
Two consecutive singles coupled with a throwing error enabled UTSA to put runners on second and third. Breaux walked the next batter to load the bases before being relieved by Labat. Labat was able to get shortstop Ryan Crew to fly out to center field to end another UTSA threat. The Roadrunners stranded nine runners during the course the game.
“It was big,” Labat said of his performance and the team not allowing UTSA to get on the board. “We were only up by two runs. We had to stop them. I was just trying to keep the ball low (and) get them to hit ground balls and let my defense play behind me.”
Breaux said it was nice to have the defense backing him on such a windy day.
“It’s really big, especially with the wind blowing in like this,” Breaux said. “You just let the ball work and let them hit it. When the defense is behind you, it’s a lot easier to play the game.”
Senior right fielder Bubba Bell and junior catcher Michael Muscato each had two hits for the Colonels, while center fielder Sean Danielson and Crew each finished the day 2-4 for the Roadrunners.
Game Two
Five unanswered runs in the top of the ninth inning were just enough for the Roadrunners to edge the Colonels 9-8 on Saturday.
Trailing 8-4 in their final at bat, the Roadrunners exploded for five runs highlighted by a double by right fielder Stephen Holdren that drove home three runs.
Danielson led the way for the Roadrunners with a 3-5 performance at the plate. Bell went 2-5 with three RBI while junior second baseman Patrick Harris had two hits and one RBI for the Colonels.
Noah Tritz (2-1) earned the win, while junior Chris Greer (0-1) suffered the loss.
Game One
Solid pitching along with one run in the third and two more in the fifth propelled UTSA past the Colonels 3-0 in the series opener Friday night.
Aaron Rodriguez (4-3) pitched a complete game five-hitter for the Roadrunners, walking three and striking out three.
Senior pitcher Mark Fernandez (4-5) suffered the loss for the Colonels, surrendering three runs on nine hits with two walks while fanning three.
The Colonels will return to action when they travel to McNeese State tomorrow night for the first of a three-game series with the Cowboys. Tomorrow night’s game will begin at 7 p.m. while Saturday’s game will get under way at 3 p.m. The series finale is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
