April 23, 2004
Box Score
Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American (18-28) used pitching, defense and clutch hits to sweep a doubleheader from Dallas Baptist (36-11). The Broncs came from behind to win Game One 3-2 and then held on for an 8-7 win in the nightcap. The series concludes, Saturday, April 24 with start time at 1:00 p.m.
Dallas Baptist used two hits and an error to score two runs in the top of the second inning. Lance Broadway held the Broncs hitless for five and two-third innings. With two outs in the sixth inning, Louie Alamia broke up the no-hitter with a single through the right side. That extended his reaching base safely streak to 54 games.
In the bottom of the seventh, UTPA started on the comeback trail. With one out, Matt Eichel singled to right field and moved to second on a failed pick off attempt. Tony Ortiz ripped a single to right field to score Eichel. Aaron Flowers dropped a single down the right field line to advance Ortiz to second. John Lopez singled to left field and moved to second when the ball deflected off the left fielder's glove. Flowers and Ortiz scored on the play to put the Broncs up 3-2.
The game ended on an outstanding defensive play. With two outs and Ned Yost on second, Chris McCulloch singled to right field. Yost gunned it for home and Matt Sisk threw a bullet to get him out at the plate to end the game.
For UTPA, Eichel and Flowers scored one run each and Oritz scored one run and drove in one run. Chad Linder gave up two hits and struck out two batters in three innings to improve to 2-2.
For Dallas Baptist, Ryan Olivo was 3-for-4 and Cody Montgomery and Ben Zobrist were 2-for-4 each. Broadway gave up six hits, three runs and struck out eight batters in eight innings as he fell to 8-2.
"We just kept battling out there until things went our way," Said head coach Willie Gawlik. "I look at the box score and the fact that we gave up no walks just stands out. Justin Bogy threw a great game for us. He gave up nine hits but threw five scoreless innings. Chad came in from the bullpen and shut them down. Matt Sisk had a tremendous defensive game for us. That throw home in the ninth was an awesome shot."
In Game Two, the Broncs attacked early. Marco Garza led off with a walk and moved to second on a deep fly ball. Jarod Hickle crushed a double to right center field to score Garza. Ricky Broyles dropped a single over the shortstop's head to put runners on the corners. A passed ball scored Hickle to make it 2-0 Broncs. UTPA used three hits to score two runs in the third inning to put Texas-Pan American up 4-0.
Then the lightning came. A series of storms and lightning strikes caused a 93 minute delay. When the game resumed, the Patriots seemed refreshed. In the fourth inning, Drew Holder drew a walk and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. With two outs, a bad throw on a grounder hit by Daniel Magness allowed Holder to score.
UTPA came right back in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, T.J. Gilmer and Alamia drew walks. A fielder's choice by Flowers forced Alamia out at second and moved Gilmer to third. On the next pitch, Gilmer took off and stole home to make it 5-1.
In the fifth inning, with two on and two outs, Holder smacked a double to left center field to drive in the two runners. Holder then came home on a single to left field by Zobrist to make it 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Sisk singled past the shortstop. Following a strike out, Broyles lined a double down the left field line to score Sisk.
The Patriots and Broncs would each score a run in the seventh. UTPA gave themselves a little breathing room with a run in the eighth inning to make it 8-5. Dallas Baptist would make one last run at UTPA in the ninth. Montgomery opened the inning with a single through the right side. Olivo reached base on a fielder's choice and he and Montgomery each advanced a base on an error. Holder singled through the left side to score Olivo and Montgomery to make it 8-7. Broyles, who had moved from third base to the mound, then got a ground out, strike out and strike out to end the game.
For UTPA, Broyles was 3-for-5 and drove in two runs, Flowers was 3-for-5, scored a run and drove in a run, Garza was 2-for-4 and scored two runs and Sisk was 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in a run. Alamia had three walks in the game to extend his reaching base safely streak to 55 games. Juan Saenz gave up four hits, four runs and struck out five batters in five innings to move to 5-2. Broyles gave up two hits, two unearned runs and struck out two batters in one inning for his seventh save of the season. That ties the school record set by Scott Fowler in 2001.
For Dallas Baptist, Montgomery was 3-for-4 and scored three runs, Holder was 2-for-3, scored two runs and drove in four runs and Zobrist was 2-for-5 and drove in two runs. Randall Taylor gave up six hits and four runs in three innings to fall to 7-3.
"It's nice to get a sweep at home," said Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "Juan did a great job out there tonight. It's tough to pitch three innings, sit for about 90 minutes and then come back out. Ryne Foster came in and threw three solid innings. Ricky is just one tough kid. He plays 17 innings at third base today and then moves to the mound and gets the save for us. Once again, this is a team that just doesn't quit. We keep battling out there. We expect another tough game tomorrow. Dallas Baptist is a great team and we just have to play with the same level of intensity as we did today."
