April 13, 2004

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Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American (16-24) once again rode the roller coaster of emotions in a spilt with Texas-San Antonio. The Broncs took a 5-1 win in the opener and then suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the nightcap. The series wraps up, Wednesday, April 14 with a start time of 2:00 p.m.

In Game One, Texas-Pan American drew first blood. With one out, Louie Alamia (So./Edinburg, Texas/Edinburg North HS) singled through center field to extend his reaching base streak to 48 games. Matt Sisk (Sr./Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights HS) singled through the left side to move Alamia to second. Matt Eichel (Jr./Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine HS) sent the ball over the left field wall for a three-run shot.

In the third inning, with one out, J.R. Voyles reached on an error. Following a strike out, a walk and a single loaded the bases for Lucas Stewart, who walked to drive in Voyles. The Broncs would get the run back in the bottom of the third. Aaron Flowers (Jr./Rowlett, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Tony Ortiz (Jr./Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan HS). A fielder's choice from Marco Garza (Jr./Mission, Texas/Sharyland HS) forced Flowers out. A wild pitch moved Ortiz to third and Garza to second. Ortiz scored on a sacrifice fly to center field from Alamia. The Broncs picked up an insurance run in the sixth inning.

For UTPA, Eichel was 2-for-4, had a home run, scored two runs and drove in three runs while Ortiz, Sisk and Ricky Broyles (Jr./Longview, Texas/Northeast Texas CC) were all 2-for-4. Cesar Pena (Fr./Harlingen, Texas/Harlingen South HS) gave up four hits, one run and struck out five batters in five and one-third innings to improve to 3-2. John Lopez gave up five hits, no runs and struck out five batters in three and two-third innings for his first save.

For UTSA, Clint Sansom and Ryan Crew was each 2-for-4. Aaron Rodriguez gave up six hits, four runs and struck out one batter in three innings to drop to 1-5.

"We just put everything together today," Said head coach Willie Gawlik. "Cesar did a good job on the mound. He scattered some hits but the defense was there to help him out. John came on with two on and got the batter out. He closed the game strong for us. Matt's three-run shot was a big boost for us. I thought we spread the hits out well throughout the line-up."

Game Two was one of outstanding pitching and great defensive plays. The two teams battled through eight scoreless innings until the ninth. Chris Lewis opened the inning with a walk. Aric Green laid down a sacrifice bunt that Tommy Sorden (Sr./Austin, Texas/Navarro College) picked up after he slipped. While sitting on the ground, he threw a perfect strike to get Green out. Following a fly out, Michael McKennon singled to score Lewis and McKennon moved to second on the throw home. Volyes then singled to left field to score McKennon.

The Broncs refused to give up without a fight in the bottom of the ninth. T.J. Gilmer (So./Forney, Texas/Forney HS) came in to pinch hit and singled through the left side. Following a strike out, Flowers doubled to left center field to score Gilmer. Ortiz doubled to right center and Flowers was thrown out at home trying to score. Walks to Garza and Juan Saenz (Jr./Mission, Texas/Mission HS) loaded the bases but a strike out ended the game.

For UTPA, Flowers was 3-for-4 and drove in a run while Alamia walked to extend his reaching base safely streak to 49 games. Sorden threw a great game in defeat for the Broncs. He gave up seven hits, two runs and struck out four batters in nine innings to fall to 2-3.

For UTSA, Crew and Stewart were both 2-for-4 while Green had 14 putouts. Klae Boehme gave up five hits, one run and struck out one batter in two and two-third innings to improve to 5-5. Crew gave up a walk and struck out one in one-third of an inning for the save.

"Tommy pitched a great ball game," said Head Coach Gawlik. "He shut UTSA out for eight innings. It would have been great for him to get the win. We had opportunities in the ninth to win the game and we just didn't get it done. The guys just never quit fighting. As long as the game is still going, we have a shout to win. We just haven't been winning the close games, but one of these days, things will go our way."