March 17, 2006
Box Score
The University of Arkansas - Little Rock took a pair of games from the UTPA diamondmen on Friday (Mar. 17) on its home field in Little Rock, AR.
University of Arkansas - Little Rock 10, UTPA 6
For the second consecutive game, the UALR unleashed the bats in the bottom of the eighth inning en route to downing the Broncs by a 10-6 count in the first game of the doubleheader.
With the score tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning, UTPA starter Dane Mason (Marlton, NJ/Oklahoma State University) quickly recorded two straight outs before the Trojans were able to unload with a quartet of runs, starting off on a Drew Gray hit by pitch.
The Trojans sent out Jon Watson to replace Gray at first base and proceeded to steal second base with two outs in the inning. Following an infield single by Ryan Gotcher that left runners at first and third, the Broncs walked Jacob Stover, which loaded the bases. With two outs and bases loaded, UALR shortstop Derek Eilers broke the tie game with a single to right field scoring both Watson and Gotcher, which gave the Trojans an 8-6 lead.
UALR would add another insurance run to the frame when Matt King followed up Eilers with a single to right field, scoring Stover from third base. Two batters later, Eilers would tack on another run for the Trojans as he scored on a passed ball, giving UALR a 10-6 lead heading into the final frame.
In the ninth inning, UALR reliever Adam Miller opened the frame by walking Blake Whittlesey (Marble Falls, TX/UT Brownsville) before recording three consecutive outs, including striking out Zach Smith (Sanger, TX/Sanger H.S.) to end the first game of the doubleheader.
Miller picked up the victory for the Trojans and improved his record to 4-1 on the season after throwing 3.1 innings, giving up three unearned runs on zero hits. He struck out five hitters and walked a trio of Bronc batters.
Offensively, King led the Trojans with three hits in four plate appearances, including four runs batted in and one run scored. Stover, Eilers, Gray and Matt Garlington each collected a pair of hits in the contest.
Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) led the Broncs with two hits and two runs scored while Patrick Brooks (Vallejo, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) drove in a pair of runs and Osiel Flores (Mission, TX/UT Brownsville) plated two runs.
Mason recorded the loss for the Broncs, dropping his record to 3-3 on the season.
University of Arkansas - Little Rock 4, UTPA 0
Trevor Clay silenced the Broncs' bat as the UALR right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout allowing the Trojans to secure a 4-0 triumph over the Broncs in the second game of the doubleheader.
Clay improved his record to 4-0 as he tossed 9.0 innings, striking out nine hitters while allowing only four hits for the victory.
The Trojans received all of the offense that they would need during the second inning of the contest where UALR scored all four of its runs. Gotcher connected on a two-run base knock while Eilers and Stover each drove in a run for the Trojans.
Kelly Casares (Missouri City, TX/McLennan J.C.) notched his first loss of the season as the UTPA senior tossed 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Ronnie Morales (Great Falls, MT/Barton County C.C.) tossed the final 2.1 innings where he did not yield a run nor hit while sitting down four hitters in the process.
The Broncs dropped their record to 11-16 after the doubleheader while the Trojans improved to 16-9 on the season.
UTPA and UALR will conclude its four-game set on Saturday (Mar. 18) with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
