Top Seed UTSA Holds Off Elimination In Game 6 SLC Tournament
HUNTSVILLE, Texas ? Back-to-back Southland Conference regular season champions and top seed in the league’s post season tournament, the UTSA Roadrunners turned to the power in their line up to carry them past Northwestern State, 9-7.
UTSA took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as junior outfielder Aaron Powell singled to left center driving in Trent Lockwood.
Over the next four innings Northwestern State took control of the game posting six runs.
In the bottom of the second the Demons jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead as Roberto Gallegos singled to right field scoring Chase Lyles, then Justin O’Neal followed with a double down the left field line scoring two.
The hot bats continued into the third inning for the Demons as Mike Jaworski doubled to left center and was drove in as third baseman Joe Urtuzuastegui punched a double to left center scoring Jaworski. Roberto Gallegos claimed his second RBI on the day with a single to left center scoring Urtuzuastegui giving Northwestern State a 5-1 lead after three innings.
UTSA began to show signs of life in the top of the fourth as second baseman Ryan Hutson doubled in catcher Zach Etheredge for a 5-2 score.
In the seventh inning after NSU starter Heath Hennigan was pulled after tossing 110 pitches the UTSA bats took over scoring six runs over the next two innings.
With two on Aaron Powell scored his second RBI on the day with a single to right field sending Tim Palinscar home. Catcher Zach Etheredge scored his first and second of three RBI on the day driving a single to left center scoring Powell and Rockett, ending the seventh inning down one run, 6-5.
After sitting down the first three Demon batters in the bottom of the seventh, UTSA added a decisive three more runs as Trent Lockwood homered to right center giving the Roadrunners an 8-6 lead it would not relinquish.
With the win UTSA eliminates Northwestern State and will face the loser of game eight between A&M-Corpus Christi and tournament host Sam Houston State in game 10 on Friday at 12 p.m.