March 3, 2006
Box Score
The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team won its third straight game over the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Friday (Mar. 3) at Edinburg Baseball Stadium by a score of 5-4.
Sam Houston State scored a quick run on Bronc starter Ricky Ibarz (Caracas, Venezuela/New Mexico Junior College) in the top of the first inning when Dustin Martin doubled down the left field line and the next hitter, Karl Krailo, drove a single to left field, plating Martin.
The Broncs answered right away in the bottom half of the first when Jason Buhagiar (Penngrove, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) scored on an Osiel Flores (Mission, TX/UT-Brownsville) double to left. Flores then stole third base and scored on a wild pitch, giving the Broncs the 2-1 advantage.
The Bearkats tied the game in the fourth and took a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning when Jeremy Holzbach sent a single down the third base line with the bases loaded, driving in two runs. UTPA fought back in the bottom of the eighth when Leighton Autrey (Stephenville, TX/Navarro J.C.) smacked a two-run home run over the left field fence to tie the game.
Two innings later, Autrey came up with T.J. Gilmer (Forney, TX/Forney H.S.) on first base. Gilmer stole second, narrowly avoiding a tag on the play, before Autrey hit a line drive over the shortstops head in to left-center field allowing Gilmer to score easily.
Autrey finished the night 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in and one run scored. The home run was his first of the season. Patrick Brooks (Vallejo, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) also recorded a multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with one walk.
Ibarz went five innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs. The southpaw struck out eight hits and walked just one while earning a no decision.
Tim Haines (Mission, TX/Blinn College) picked up the win in relief, throwing 1 1/3 perfect innings, striking out the side in the top of the tenth inning. Haines' record for the season is now 2-0. Ryne Foster (Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park H.S.) pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit and striking out four.
The Broncs pulled within one game of the .500 mark as their record now sits at 7-8 while the Bearkats fell to 6-6 on the season.
The two teams match up again on Saturday (Mar. 4) at 4:00 p.m. for the middle game of the three-game series at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
UTPA Sports Information
