May 7, 2004
Box Score
Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American (20-28) used all of its tricks to beat Southeastern Louisiana (15-30) 6-4 to extend its winning streak to four games. The Broncs and Lions wrap up the series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m.
Southeastern Louisiana wasted no time getting on the board first. Tony Suarez was the lead-off hitter and took a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead. The Broncs came back in the third inning. Ricky Broyles led off with a single and T.J. Gilmer beat out a bunt for a single. A wild pitch moved Broyles to third and Gilmer to second. Following a strike out, Louie Alamia hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Broyles and tie the game.
In the fourth inning, with one out, Marco Garza singled past the shortstop and moved to second on a failed pick off attempt. Matt Eichel hit a single to left field to score Garza and give UTPA a 2-1 lead. The Lions used an error to score a run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Eichel singled to right center and Matt Sisk drew a walk. Following a sacrifice bunt, Gilmer walked to load the bases. A walk to John Lopez pushed Eichel across the plate and Sisk scored when Alamia was hit by a pitch. The Lions refused to quit, coming back in the seventh inning. With Jason Waguespack at first, Tony Suarez singled with Waguespack moving to third. Following Suarez being picked off, Jimmy Bertelson singled to drive in Waguespack and make it 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, UTPA got some breathing room. Gilmer led off with a walk and stole second. An error by the second baseman allowed Lopez to reach second and Gilmer to score. Two consecutive sacrifice bunts moved Lopez across the plate to make it 6-3. Southeastern Louisiana scored one run in the ninth but that was all they could get.
For UTPA, Garza, Eichel and Broyles all had two hits and scored one run each. Alamia drew a walk and drove in two runs to extend his reaching base safely streak to 57 games. Juan Saenz gave up three hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out seven batters in six innings to improve to 6-2. Broyles gave up two hits, one run and struck out one batter in one inning for his ninth save of the season.
For SEL, Suarez was 3-for-5, scored a run and drove in a run, Jeff Cresson was 2-for-3 and Waguespack was 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Jose Lado gave up one hit, two runs and walked five batters in one and one-third innings to fall to 0-2.
"Giving up only three walks was the big key to winning this game," said Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "Juan did a great job out there for six innings. Chad Linder and Ricky came out of the bullpen to throw well. Forget their record; Southeastern Louisiana is a tough team. We got some key bunts down tonight and our defense made the big plays when we needed them."
