Feb. 22, 2004

Huntsville, Texas - Sam Houston State (4-2-1) swept the series with a 6-4 win over Texas-Pan American (6-8). UTPA returns to the Edinburg Baseball Stadium for a three game series with Washington State on February 27-28-29. The game on Friday, the 27th, is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.

The Broncs started out quickly. Louie Alamia (So./Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg North HS) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Marco Garza (Jr./Mission, Texas/Sharyland HS) singled to drive in Alamia. Juan Saenz (Jr./Mission, Texas/Mission HS) singled to advance Garza to third. Another single, this one by Phillip Rodriguez (Fr./Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg North HS), drove in Garza to make it 2-0.

Sam Houston was held off the scoreboard until the fifth inning. Carrol Kelly singled to drive in Dustin Martin to make it 2-1. In the seventh inning, the Bearkat bats erupted. Two walks and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. Andrew Kasparek singled to drive in Martin to make it 2-2. The Broncs then turned a double play but Jeremy Aranda scored to give SHS the lead. A single by Ryan Trevino plated Kelly to make it 4-2.

UTPA came right back in the eighth inning. With one out, Matt Sisk (SR./Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights HS) singled to centerfield to drive in Alfred Padron (Jr./Pasadena, Texas/Alvin CC). A passed ball allowed Tony Ortiz (Jr./Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan HS) to tie the game. Texas-Pan American attempted a squeeze play but it resulted in Sisk being thrown out at home. The next batter popped up to end the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Martin took a 0-2 pitch over the fence for a home run to give the Bearkats a 6-4 lead, which they held.

For UTPA, Aaron Flowers (Jr./Rowlett, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) went 3-for-4 and had six assists. Alamia extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his reaching base safely streak to 24 games. Tommy Sorden (Sr./Austin, Texas/Navarro College) had a solid game giving up five hits, two runs and striking out two in six innings for no decision.

For Sam Houston State, Martin was 2-for-3, scored three runs and drove in two while Trevino was 2-for-4. Dustin Craig gave up three hits and one run in one and two-third innings for his first win.

"We had a play in the second inning that came back to haunt us." Said head coach Willie Gawlik. "We had bases loaded with no one out and we attempted a sacrifice fly. The ball was caught and our guy left early. Then in the eighth with one out and two runners on, we didn't execute a squeeze play and the runner was thrown out at home and that was the game. I thought Tommy threw very well today. He pitched us out of trouble."