March 21, 2004

Box Score

Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American (14-14) used timely hits to stun #27 Oral Roberts, 4-1 at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium today. The Broncs were held to three hits, however two of them were doubles with the bases loaded. UTPA hits the road to take on Texas-San Antonio in a two game series, March 23-24. Both games are scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

Texas-Pan American got on the scoreboard in its first at bat. Louie Alamia (So./Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg North HS) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Marco Garza (Jr./Mission, Texas/Sharyland HS) drew a walk to reach base for the sixth consecutive time. A wild pitch moved Alamia to third and Garza to second. Following a strike out, Juan Saenz (Jr./Mission, Texas/Mission HS) walked to load the bases. Matt Eichel (Jr./Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine HS) ripped a double down the left field line that scored Alamia and Garza and moved Saenz to third. That made it 2-0 for the Broncs.

The Broncs's infield turned double plays in four consecutive innings starting with the second inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Broncs lit up the scoreboard. Aaron Flowers (Jr./Rowlett, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) drew a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alamia. Garza singled through the left side to advance Flowers to third. A bad throw on a grounder hit by Tony Ortiz (Jr./Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan HS) loaded the bases. Saenz smashed a double down the left field line to score Flowers and Garza and move Ortiz to third to make it 4-0.

Oral Roberts threatened in the top of the sixth inning. Boomer Welles led off with a single through the right side. Kevin Lamb put down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by the Broncs. Ryan Wellborn hit a single to load the bases with no one out. A sacrifice fly brought in Welles to make it 4-1. Justin Bogy (Sr./West Columbia, Texas/West Columbia HS) got a fly out and a line out to get out of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Chad Linder (Fr./Reklaw, Texas/Rusk HS) took the mound for Texas-Pan American. The Golden Eagles struck out twice and had no hits against Linder, who finished the game for UTPA.

For UTPA, Saenz and Eichel both had doubles that drove in two runs, Garza scored two runs and Alamia extended his reaching base safely streak to 39 games. Bogy gave up five hits, one run and walked one with two strikeouts in six innings to move to 3-1. Linder gave up no hits, no runs and struck out two batters in three innings for his second save of the season.

For ORU, Welles was 2-for-3 and scored the lone run for the Golden Eagles. Taylor McIntyre gave up three hits, four runs, walked four and struck out six in four and one-third innings to fall to 2-1.

"This is a really big win for our team." Said head coach Willie Gawlik. "When you're throwing strikes, it keeps the defense alert and on their toes. Justin pitched a great game with just one walk and no earned runs. Chad came in and threw three innings of no-hit ball for the save. Those doubles from Matt and Juan were clutch hits for us. Oral Roberts is a great team. I have no question that you will see them in the NCAA Regionals."