March 15, 2006
Box Score
The University of Texas-Pan American team won a tight one on Wednesday (Mar. 15) as the Broncs defeated the Prairie View A&M Panthers 5-4 in 13 innings in Prairie View, TX.
The Broncs fell behind in the second inning when PVAMU scored a run thanks to back-to-back errors by Bronc fielders allowing the Panthers to take a 1-0 lead. The Broncs then tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Osiel Flores (Mission, TX/UT-Brownsville) drove a double to right field to bring Abraham Garcia (McAllen, TX/McAllen Memorial H.S.) across the plate, evening the score at 1-1.
Prairie View answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on just one hit. A hit batter followed by a walk combined with another Bronc error to allow the Panthers to take a 3-1 lead through four innings. UTPA got its first lead of the game in the eighth inning when Jason Buhagiar (Penngrove, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) dropped down a bunt single to the third base side of the infield, scoring Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) from third. Three batters later, Patrick Brooks (Vallejo, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) drove his fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Broncs a 4-3 lead.
Bronc starter Chad Linder (Reklaw, TX/Rusk H.S.) opened the bottom of the eight by walking the leadoff hitter and was replaced by Ray Silva (Clearlake, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) who gave up an RBI double to left center field that tied the game at four a piece.
UTPA finally pushed another run across the plate in the 13th inning when Blake Whittlesey (Marble Falls, TX/UT-Brownsville) crossed the plate on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning. Closer Tim Haines (Mission, TX/Blinn College) took over for Ronnie Morales (Great Falls, MT/Barton County C.C.) in the 13th after Morales hit the leadoff batter. Haines struck out two men in the inning, leaving the tying run on second base as the game ended.
Morales picked up his first win as a Bronc with three innings of work in relief as his record improved to 1-1 on the season. The southpaw allowed just one hit and struck out five batters. Haines earned his fourth save of the year with one inning pitched, striking out two.
Whittlesey led all hitters with three base hits. The Bronc first baseman also walked once and scored one run in the game. Brooks finished the game 2-for-6 at the plate with two runs batted in and one run scored.
UTPA improved its record to 11-13 on the season while the Panthers dropped to 19-5.
The Broncs continue their road trip as they head to the University of Arkansas - Little Rock for a four game series. Game one is on Friday (Mar. 17) with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
