March 4, 2006
Box Score
The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team won for the fourth straight game as the Broncs pounded out 15 hits and plated eight runs to take the 8-5 victory over the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Edinburg Baseball Stadium on Saturday (Mar. 4).
Dane Mason (Marlton, NJ/Oklahoma State) pitched seven strong innings for the Broncs to pick up his second win of the season. Mason scattered six hits while allowing three runs, only one of the earned, and striking out five.
The Broncs got on the board early and often, scoring a run in the first inning when Cesar Pena (Harlingen, TX/Harlingen South H.S.) lined a single in to center field, scoring Jason Buhagiar (Penngrove, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) from third base. In the second, Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.) drove an RBI single through the right side of the infield to bring T.J. Gilmer (Forney, TX/Forney H.S.) across the plate and give the Broncs a 2-0 lead.
UTPA increased that lead in the bottom half of the third when Patrick Brooks (Vallejo, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) scored when Sam Houston State tried to catch Joshua Talley (Great Falls, MT/New Mexico J.C.) stealing second. Two batters later, Gilmer singled to left field, driving in Talley from third base and extending the lead to 4-0.
The Bearkats cut the lead to 4-1 in the fourth on a Daniel Cox sacrifice fly to right. Two innings later, UTPA regained a four-run lead when Buhagiar scored on a wild pitch out of the hand of SHSU pitcher Stephen Price. Sam Houston State closed the gap in the seventh, scoring two runs with the help of three Bronc errors.
The Broncs put the game out of reach in following half inning, starting with a Gilmer solo home run to left field. Leighton Autrey (Stephenville, TX/Navarro J.C.) crossed the plate on a throwing error by the second baseman during a failed pick off of Buhagiar at first base. Osiel Flores (Mission, TX/UT-Brownsville) immediately singled up the middle to bring Buhagiar around from second. SHSU scored one run in the eighth and one in the ninth to pull within three.
Gilmer ended the night 3-for-5 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in two. The home run was his first of the season. Pena enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 game while walking twice and driving in one run.
Buhagiar was 1-for-3, walking twice and scoring three times for the Broncs. Flores and Brooks both enjoyed multi-hit performances with two hits apiece.
Kelly Casares (Missouri City, TX/McLennan J.C.) pitched two innings in relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out four. Casares picked up his first save of his career. Mason improved his record to 2-1 on the season with the win.
UTPA evened its record at 8-8 with the win while the Bearkats fall to 6-7 on the year.
The two teams face off for the final time this season on Sunday (Mar. 5) at Edinburg Baseball Stadium with a 1:00 p.m. start time.
UTPA Sports Information
