March 2, 2008
Game 1
Due to rain on Friday (Feb. 29) in Jackson, MS the Broncs were forced to finish their game on Saturday as well as their scheduled double header.
The Broncs dropped a 15-9 decision in game one of the three game series to the Tigers.
Cody Cisper received the loss, pitching 4.2 innings while allowing eight hits and seven earned runs. Charles Williams earned the win for the Tigers for his seven inning, six hit performance in which he fanned seven Bronc batters.
Newcomer Billy Donaho went three-for-five including six RBI to go along with two runs scored. Bonham Hough finished one-for-one with three runs scored in the Broncs setback.
The Tigers were led offensively by Derrick Johnson who went three-for-four to go with four RBI and one run scored.
Game 2
The Broncs began the second of three games immediately after the conclusion of game one where they suffered a 9-8 setback.
In the top of the second, the Broncs lit up the scoreboard collecting three runs off of two hits and one error. Billy Donaho led things off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jose Mendoza and scored on a balk by pitcher Marquise Zachary.
The inning continued as Chris Lozano grounded out to the second basemen, plating Esequiel Garza who reached on a balk earlier in the inning. Andrew Perez added a run to the board as he connected on his first solo homerun of the season to make the contest 3-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Tigers fired back with two runs off of two hits. Back-to-back walks and a balk to the first three batters led to a two run single by Chad Hall to make the score 3-2.
The Tigers added to their run total collecting three runs in the bottom of the third, two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in seventh. For the game, the Tigers connected on 18 hits compared to 12 for the Broncs.
Lozano went two-for-three including one RBI to go with two runs scored while Perez went two-for three with one RBI and one run scored.
For the Tigers, Jamaal Thelwell and Charles Brown each finished with four hits and two runs scored.
Shane Cox received the loss for the Broncs, while starting pitcher Marquise Zachary picked up the win after six innings of work.
Game 3
In the Broncs final game of the series, UTPA showed no signs of fatigue, as they rallied for a 21-2 victory.
The Broncs collected their second win of the season and improved to 2-6 overall.
The third inning was biggest for the Broncs, as they plated 10 runs off of nine hits. After three scoreless innings, the Broncs hitting clinic continued adding four runs off of four hits and one error, to make the score 16-1.
Ten Broncs finished with hits and seven collected two or more hits in the contest. Jose Mendoza went four-for-six with three RBI and three runs scored while Roly Gonzalez went three-for-five with two RBI and Nick Bourn went a perfect three-for-three with three RBI and two runs scored.
Cortez Cole was the only Tiger to record a multi-hit game, going two-for-five at the plate to go with one RBI.
UTPA hurler Arnold Franco earned the victory for the Broncs, as the newcomer hurled seven innings of action, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four batters.
The Broncs will be back in action on Thursday (Mar.6) when they face-off against Sam Houston State in Huntsville, TX with game time slated for 6:30 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
