March 6, 2005

Box Score

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program finished with a 3-1 record and captured its second consecutive Al Ogletree Classic championship on Sunday (Mar. 6) at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

UT - Pan American 12, Birmingham-Southern 11
UTPA (6-13) overcame an early 10-1 deficit to hand Birmingham-Southern (5-5) a 12-11 setback and give the Panthers their first loss in the Al Ogletree Classic.

The Broncs committed four errors in the second inning, which resulted in seven unearned runs for Birmingham-Southern. The Panthers would tack on three more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run triple by BSC hurler Mac Godwin. Blake Burton would eventually bring Godwin home on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

UTPA would chip away at the lead scoring one run in the bottom half of the fourth frame followed by a pair of runs in the fifth inning on RBI hits from Mark Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/Howard J.C.) and Otis Powers (Brownsville, TX/Simon Rivera H.S.).

The momentum would shift in the Broncs' favor in the bottom half of the sixth inning when UTPA exploded for eight runs to take the lead at 12-10. In that frame, the Panther hurlers surrendered five walks and hit one batter as the Broncs connected on three hits. The biggest hit came from in the form of a bases clearing triple from freshman Joe B. Gutierrez (McAllen, TX/Nikki Rowe H.S.), which would score the eventual game-winning run.

Birmingham-Southern would score one run in the eighth inning, but freshman Tim Haines (Mission, TX/Blinn College) came in relief of Steven Davila (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco H.S.) and sat down six consecutive hitters to earn his third save of the season. Haines would finish with four strikeouts in two innings of action, including striking out the side in the ninth inning.

Freshman Danny Frisby (Dallas, TX/Bryan Adams H.S.) picked up the win, tossing four innings and allowing one run on three hits. Powers finished with a team-high three hits while Jacob Jones (Kress, TX/Texas Tech University) collected two hits, two runs scored and a RBI. Gutierrez knocked in four runs in the game and Aaron Flowers (Rowlett, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) led off the first inning for the Broncs with his second home run of the season.

Godwin and Doug Cunningham each racked up a pair of hits in the game while Brandon Hynick drove home three runs and Scott Billak scored a trio of runs.

UT - Pan American 12, UT - San Antonio 9
The Broncs wrapped up its second consecutive Al Ogletree Classic championship with a 12-9 victory over UT - San Antonio in the nightcap and held-off Birmingham-Southern by a .5 games for the crown.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom half of the first inning, the Broncs scored six runs on five hits to take a 6-1 lead. Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine H.S.) and Ricky Broyles (Longview, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) each added two-run singles off UTSA starter Ryan Crew in the frame to give the Broncs' an early advantage.

The Roadrunners would cut the scoring deficit down to three runs at 6-3 in the top of the fourth inning when Stephen Holdren scored on a single by Trevor Johnson. J.R. Voyles would double off UTPA starter Ryne Foster (Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park H.S.) to bring home Johnson.

UT - San Antonio would tie the game at 6-6 one inning later when Chris Lewis doubled to left field, scoring both Michael McKennon and Crew. Lewis would eventually score on an Eric Moreno ground out. The Roadrunners' offense wasn't finished as UTSA would add another run in the sixth inning when Voyles scored from second base on an error by the Broncs' infield.

Similar to the first inning, the Broncs plated six runs to regain the lead highlighted by a two-run single by freshman Zach Smith (Sanger, TX/Sanger H.S.). UTSA would respond in the eighth inning with a two-run single McKennon that plated both Sean Danielson and Ryan Saltzberger.

Powers, Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) and Zach Gordon (Corpus Christi, TX/Midland College) each collected two hits and scored two runs in the game. Eichel drove on three runs as did Smith and Broyles.

Rodriguez picked up his first win of the season as he tossed a single inning, allowing two runs on one hit. Haines would record his second save of the day, hurling 1.1 innings while giving up only one hit while striking out two Roadrunner hitters.

Crew was the offensive leader for the Roadrunners as he collected three hits along with scoring a pair of runs. McKennon and Lewis each added two hits a piece for UTSA. Blake Brannon suffered the loss for the Roadrunners and watched as his record sank to 0-1 on the season.

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team will be back in action against Prairie View A&M in Houston, TX, on Tuesday (Mar. 8). The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.

University of Illinois 1, Sam Houston State 1 (14 innings)
Sam Houston State and Illinois battled 14 innings only to end up with a 1-1 tie in the first game of the Ogletree Classic on Sunday (Mar. 6). The Fighting Illini jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Chris Robinson drove home Ryan Hastings on a single to centerfield.

The Bearkats would score their only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on an Isalas Garcia double, which would score Adam Perry from second base.

Sam Houston State had an opportunity to end the game in the bottom of the 11th, but Illinois recorded a triple play when Karl Krailo left early from third base on a fly out from Jose Salazar while Sean Jones was tagged out at second base.

The Fightin' Illini also had a chance to win it in the 13th inning, but Chris Robinson was thrown out at the plate by centerfielder Roy Merritt to stop the scoring threat.

Sam Houston State was led offensively by Sean Jones, Karl Krailo and Jose Salazar who each collected two hits a piece. Trevor Huisinga paced Illinois with a pair of hits.

Al Ogletree Classic All-Tournament Team
First Base - Dusty Bensko (Illinois)
Second Base - Jonathan Sanford (Birmingham-Southern)
Third Base - Chad Frk (Illinois)
Shortstop - Ryan Crew (UT - San Antonio)
Catcher - Blake Burton (Birmingham-Southern)
Designated Hitter - Mark Rodriguez (UT - Pan American)
Utility - Brandon Hynick (Birmingham-Southern)
Outfield - Dustin Martin (Sam Houston State)
Outfield - Sean Danielson (UT - San Antonio)
Outfield - Otis Powers (UT - Pan American)
Outfield - Ryan Trevino (Sam Houston State)
Pitcher - Aaron Guerra (UT - Pan American)
Pitcher - Brian Blomquist (Illinois)
Pitcher - Matt Langwell (Sam Houston State)

UTPA Sports Information