March 4, 2007

Box Score

University of Texas-Pan American vs. Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University rallied back in the ninth inning to defeat the University of Texas-Pan American by a score of 11-10 at the Al Ogletree Classic on Sunday (Mar. 4) at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Sam Houston State got on the board first in the opening inning of the contest when Karl Krailo hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield that plated Pugh. The Broncs answered back with a two-run, two-hit inning in which Dominic Tognietti (Katy, TX/James E. Taylor) recorded an RBI and Osiel Flores (Mission, TX/UT-Brownsville) stole home to make the score 2-1.

The Bearkats came back in the top of the second frame with a two-run, three-hit inning followed by a two-run, three hit Bronc inning that regained the lead for UTPA at 4-3.

After two innings on the mound in which Chad Linder (Reklaw, TX/Rusk H.S.) allowed three runs on four hits, the Broncs looked to freshman Cody Cisper (Peggs, OK/Northeaster State University) for relief.

SHSU knotted the game up once again in the third inning when Cisper gave up a single to the first batter he faced in Karl Krailo that eventually became the equalizer as Krailo rounded the bases.

As they did earlier in the contest, the Broncs responded by posting a three-run, three-hit outing in the bottom of the third frame to make the score 8-7. Jeremy Johnson (League City, TX/Alvin Junior College), Roly Gonzalez (Miami, FL/UNC-Greensboro) and Leighton Autrey (Stephenville, TX/Navarro J.C.) recorded RBI in the inning on base hits.

The fourth inning proved to be the downfall for UTPA as the Bearkats put up a four spot in an inning that included a three-run Verbick home run and a Sebek triple to left field that plated Krailo.

UTPA took a one run lead at 9-8 when the Broncs recorded two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jonathan Hutcherson (Magnolia, TX/Magnolia H.S.) added an RBI double down the left field line, crossing the plate on a Gonzalez RBI single to center field to account for the UTPA scores.

The Broncs added to their lead by posting a one-run seventh inning courtesy of a Tognietti sacrifice fly that plated Gonzalez to widen the gap at 10-8 going into the ninth inning.

The Bearkats scored three runs in the final inning of the contest, including a sacrifice fly that drove Aaron Cook home before Nick Zaleski hit a game-winning RBI to right field to make the score 11-10.

The Broncs drop to 6-13 on the season while Steven Davila (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco H.S.) gets tagged with the loss for his 1.0 inning on the mound, giving up three runs during his outing.

The University of Texas-Pan American vs. University of Texas at San Antonio
In game two of a doubleheader on the final day of play at the Al Ogletree Classic, the University of Texas-Pan American baseball team held on to an early lead in a 3-2 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio on Sunday (Mar. 4) at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Freshman Bryce Smolen (Houston, TX/Lamar H.S.) pitched 7.0 innings, allowing 10 hits while striking out five of the 32 batters faced to earn the win over the Southland Conference foes as the Broncs improved to 7-13 on the season.

The Roadrunners went up early on a fielding error that allowed lead-off man Marshal Davis to score, but the Broncs responded with a three-run, four hit inning in the bottom of the first.

The Broncs used a little trickery to score their first run when UTSA catcher Zach Etheridge attempted to throw out Leighton Autrey (Stephenville, TX/Navarro Junior College) as he stole second base. As the ball left Etheridge's hand, Roly Gonzalez (Miami, FL/UNC-Greensboro) stole home, giving the Broncs a much needed spark early in the contest to even the score at one run apiece.

Gonzalez's run was followed by a Patrick Brooks (Vallejo, CA/Santa Rosa J.C.) RBI single up the middle that drove Autrey home. Brooks advanced to third after stealing second, and reached on a fielding error by UTSA second baseman James Keithley to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

The game remained 3-1 for the following six innings until the Roadrunners made it a one run game after Saltzgaber scored on a sacrifice fly to right field, making it 3-2.

Steven Davila (Weslaco, TX/Weslaco H.S.) finished the final two innings for the Broncs to earn his fourth save of the season, failing to surrender a hit from the seven batters faced. The Broncs return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 6) when they head to Prarie View, TX, to take on Prarie View A&M with game time slated for 2:00 p.m.

University of Illinois vs. Stephen F. Austin
The University of Illinois finished strong as they handed an 11-6 setback to Stephen F. Austin University on Sunday (Mar.4) at the Al Ogletree Classic played at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Illinois took a two-run lead in the top of the second inning before SFA tied the game at two runs apiece on a home run off the bat of Jared Pitts that drove in Kevin Crabtree that came in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Lumberjacks continued to hit well into the fifth frame, adding another run when Jeff Brewer scored on a sacrifice fly from Justin Long to put SFA up by a score of 3-2, but the Illini didn't let the lead last long, tying the game at three runs each when Joe Bonadonna reached on a Shawn Roof ground out to the short stop.

Just as the Illini did, the Lumberjacks tied the game up on their next series of at-bats when Noel Trevino single through the left side of the infield and plated Kevin Croft to make the score 4-3.

The final three innings of the game belonged to the Illini, as they posted marks of three, two and three runs in the seventh, eight and ninth innings, respectively to close out the game. The Lumberjacks eighth-inning rally was short lived as they were only able to pick up a pair of runs in the frame.

Thomas Barrett (1-0) picked up the win for the Illini, pitching 2.0 innings while striking out two of the 11 batters faced and allowing just one hit. Teammate Brian Long (1) earned the save, putting out the final eight SFA batters while allowing one run in the process. Lumberjack hurler Jared Schrom (0-1) is tagged with the loss for allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings pitched.

Kyle Hudson picked up four RBI while going 4-for-5 at the plate for Illinois. SFA outfielder Pitts recorded two RBI on two hits in his four appearances in the batter's box.

UTPA Sports Information