March 25, 2008
Three runs was all the Broncs needed to secure their eighth victory of the season in a 3-2 win over Lamar University on Tuesday (Mar. 25) in Beaumont, TX.
With the win, the Broncs improved to 8-12 on the season while the Cardinals fell to 14-8 overall.
Three Broncs finished with multi-hit performances including Jordan Rutenbar who went 2-for-4 to go with two RBI's and one run scored while Ryan Vest and Jose Mendoza each went 2-for-4 in the contest.
After two scoreless innings, the Broncs finally got on board in the third when Mendoza singled up the middle and advanced to second following a Joe B. Gutierrez single to left field. With a runner in scoring position, Rutenbar singled to up the middle, plating Mendoza and gave the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
The Broncs continued the hitting rally in the fourth, as they connected on a run on two hits. With one out, Jeremy Johnson singled to right field, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Roly Gonzalez and scored on a balk, making the score 2-0.
Rutenbar would add another run for the Broncs in the fifth, as he connected on his second homerun of the season making the score 3-0.
The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the sixth when they recorded two runs on two hits to cut the deficit to 3-2. Travis Dunson led things off with a single to center field and crossed home plate following a Ryan Saldivar homerun down the left field line.
The Broncs defense was able to hold of the Cardinals and secure a 3-2 victory.
Pitching a compete game for the Broncs was Shane Janecka, allowing five hits, two runs - all earned while striking out five. Janecka joins newcomer A.J. Franco, the only two Broncs to throw a complete game this season.
Game Two
The Broncs weren't so lucky in game two of the scheduled double-header against Lamar, as they suffered a 11-1 setback in seven innings.
With the loss, the Broncs dropped to 8-13 on the season and fell to 3-9 on the road.
The Cardinals went on a hitting frenzy, connecting on five runs on five hits in the bottom half of the first inning, to make the score 5-0.
Lamar added a run in the second when Wade Mathis tripled down the left line, plating Jeremiah Sammy who got on base with a walk making the score 6-0.
The Broncs lone run came in the third when Gonzalez would reach on a walk and would later score on a fielder's choice by Gutierrez.
After four scoreless innings for the Broncs and six runs added to the scoreboard for Lamar, the ten run rule was enforced.
The Broncs were led offensively by Vest who finished the game a perfect 2-for-2 while Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Five Bronc hurlers were used in the contest, starting pitcher Philip Rodriguez gets the loss, dropping his overall record to 0-2.
The Broncs will head to Las Cruces, NM where they will face-off in a three-game series with New Mexico State starting Friday (Mar. 28) with game time slated for 6:05 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
