March 23, 2004

Final Stats

San Antonio, Texas - Texas-San Antonio (11-10) had three home runs on the day and they needed every last one. The Roadrunners hung on for a 12-11 win in 10 innings over Texas-Pan American (14-15) today. The series will conclude tomorrow in San Antonio. The game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

Texas-San Antonio attempted to put the game away in the first inning. The Roadrunners used four hits and one error to score six runs. Among the hits were a solo home run by Sam Mitchell and a three-run shot by Chris Lewis.

Texas-Pan American came right back in the bottom of the second inning. Matt Sisk (Sr./Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights HS) led off with a walk and then stole second. Ryan Grimet (Fr./Pearland, Texas/Pearland HS) drew a walk, then a passed ball moved Sisk to third and Grimet to second. Ben DiOrio (Sr./Canon City, Colo./Seward County CC) ripped a double to right center to score Sisk and Grimet. Following a pop up, T.J. Gilmer (So./Forney, Texas/Forney HS) smacked a two run homer to make it 6-4.

In the third inning with one out, Grimet doubled to right field and moved to third on a ground out. Ricky Broyles (Jr./Longview, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) walked to put runners at the corners for UTPA. A wild pitch allowed Grimet to score and Broyles to move to second making it 6-5. Gilmer then doubled to right field to score Broyles and tie the game at 6-6.

In the bottom of the third, the Roadrunners would retake the lead. Mitchell doubled to left field and a double to left field by J.R. Voyles would score Mitchell. A two run home run by Ryan Crew made it 9-6 UTSA.

The Broncs refused to throw in the towel. In the fourth inning, Louie Alamia (So./Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg North HS) drew a walk. He moved to second on a failed pick off attempt and took third on a ground out. Tony Ortiz (Jr./Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan HS) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Alamia.

In the fifth inning, Broyles singled to left field and then stole second. A sharp single to left field by Gilmer scored Broyles. Gilmer stole second and Aaron Flowers (Jr./Rowlett, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) walked. A sacrifice bunt moved Gilmer to third and Flowers to second. With two outs, Ortiz ripped a single up the middle that scored Gilmer and Flowers to give UTPA the lead at 10-9.

UTSA was not quite ready to surrender a home game. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Lewis hit his second home run of the day. His two run shot gave the Roadrunners the lead at 11-10. UTPA would answer that run in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Sisk singled to third base. Juan Saenz (Jr./Mission, Texas/Mission HS) delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle. DiOrio singled to left center to score Sisk. Saenz attempted to score and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

The Broncs threatened in the 10th inning as Ortiz singled and Sisk reached on a fielder's choice to put two runners on to open the inning. Texas-San Antonio got a strike out and two fly outs to end the threat. In the bottom of the 10th, the Broncs got the lead off batter out on strikes. Michael McKennon laid down a bunt single and came home on a triple by Lee Todesco to end the game.

For UTPA, Gilmer was 3-for-4, scored two runs, drove in four and almost hit for the cycle with a single, double and home run. Ortiz was 2-for-5 and drove in three runs, DiOrio was 2-for-6, scored a run and drove in three and Garza, Broyles and Sisk all had two hits each. Alamia extended his reaching base safely streak to 41 games. Broyles gave up two hits, one run and struck out one batter in one-third of an inning to fall to 0-2.

For UTSA, Lewis was 3-for-5, scored two runs and drove in five runs with two home runs. Mitchell and Voyles both had two hits and scored two runs. Lucas Stewart gave up four hits, walked one, and struck out one in two and one-third innings to move to 1-0.

"We did not pitch very well at the beginning of the game." Said head coach Willie Gawlik. "Giving up six runs in the first inning puts a lot of pressure on the offense. Our offense however, did a great job of battling and getting us back in the game. In the 10th inning, we had two guys on with no outs. We had three chances to get a bunt down and we just couldn't do it. T.J. did a great job at the plate today as he almost hit for the cycle. Lately, we have struggled early in the games on the mound and then had the offense bringing us back in. That is hard to do all the time."