April 22, 2005
Box Score
The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program squeezed out a late-rally in the eighth inning en route to a 12-11 victory over Western Kentucky at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium on Friday (Apr. 22).
Freshman J.P. Mackie (Mission, TX/Sharyland H.S.) opened up the ninth inning with an infield single then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Ruben Shives, Jr. (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.). After an intentional walk to Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.), Aaron Flowers (Rowlett, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) singled to left field, allowing Mackie to score with the game-winning run.
The Broncs jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning after Alamia singled to centerfield to start off the frame. It was Alamia's fourth consecutive game in which he has led off the first inning with a base knock for the Broncs. Following a walk to Flowers to put runners on first and second bases, UTPA senior Mark Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/Howard J.C.) lined a single to leftfield to score both runners.
UTPA would add two more runs in the fourth inning when Alamia would score on a balk by WKU hurler Grady Hinchman then Ricky Broyles (Longview, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) was plated on a groundout by Phillip Rodriguez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.).
The Hilltoppers would come back from four down by rallying off a six-run fifth inning to take an 8-6 advantage. The Broncs were able to tack on a run in the bottom half of that frame to cut the lead to one at 8-7.
Western Kentucky continued to mount an offensive attack by adding insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings and extending its lead to 10-7.
The Broncs were able to put together a late rally when Ruben Shives (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.) opened up the bottom half of the eighth frame with a walk. Following Alamia's third hit of the game and a WKU fielding error, Jacob Jones (Kress, TX/Texas Tech University) doubled down the right-field line to plate a pair of runs.
Zach Gordon (Corpus Christi, TX/Midland College) was able to connect on a fly ball to leftfield, which scored Flowers from third and cut the lead down to one run at 11-10. Rodriguez followed up with a RBI single to left, which scored Jones from second to tie the game at 11 apiece.
WKU catcher Jordan Newton led the Hilltoppers' offense as he collected two hits and two RBI while plating a trio of runs. Marcus Ross and Eric Shriven each added two this and two runs scored for Western Kentucky.
Alamia finished with three hits and two runs scored, and now takes his career total to 183 career hits, which places him 11 knocks shy of breaking the program record held at 193 by Marco Garza.
Mark Rodriguez finished with a pair of base knocks and three RBI while Jones added two hits, two runs and two RBI in the ballgame.
Tim Haines (Mission, TX/Blinn College) picked up the victory for the Broncs as he pitched 1.2 innings of action, shutting down all five hitters that he faced in the game. He improved his record to 2-2 on the season.
Greg Durr picked up the loss for the Hilltoppers as he dropped his record to 2-3 on the season.
The Broncs and Hilltoppers will continue their three-game series tomorrow on Saturday (Apr. 23) with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
