March 10, 2009
After defeating the Islanders this past weekend at the Whataburger College Classic, the Broncs (3-11) returned to Corpus Christi, Texas this Tuesday (Mar. 10) afternoon to hand TAMUCC back-to-back setbacks as the Broncs defeated the Islanders 8-7 in game one of the double-header and 17-10 in game two at Chapman Field.
UTPA 8, TAMUCC 7
This time around TAMUCC decided to get a head start as they put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first but the Broncs returned the favor as they scored four runs in two frames.
The Broncs first run came on a bases-loaded walk as Jordan Rutenbar was hit-by-a-pitch advancing Jose Salmon. On the next play, Bonham Hough grounded out into a double-play but allowed Abraham Garcia to score. Iradier Hernandez then brought in the final run of the third on a RBI single to center allowing Garrett Bivone to score. UTPA then put another run on the board in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Bivone driving in Jose Salmon.
The Islanders had another quiet outing but put up single runs in the fifth and sixth to make the score 5-4 in favor of the Broncs. The Broncs did manage to put up a lone run in the sixth on a Jose Salmon sac bunt bringing in Ryan Vest.
With UTPA leading by one, the Islanders put a scare on the Broncs as they scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and one in the eighth giving the Islanders a 7-5 advantage.
Going into the ninth, the Islanders loaded the bases, but a two RBI double to center by Jordan Rutenbar would bring in Gabriel Salinas and Jose Mendoza to tie the score at seven. Esequiel Garza, who pinch hit for Hough, flied out to center driving in Garrett Bivone for the winning run of the night to defeat the Islanders 8-7.
Garrett Bivone finished game one 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI while teammate Abraham Garcia went 2-for-3 with one run with right-handed pitcher Marcos Martinez notching his first win of the season.
UTPA 17, TAMUCC 10
The Broncs stepped it up a notch in game two of the double-header as UTPA went on to defeat the Islanders 17-10.
TAMUCC started off strong as they scored six runs in the first three frames of the contest. In that span, the Broncs put up two runs in the second as Bonham Hough singled down the left field line bringing in Iradier Hernandez and Ryan Vest.
UTPA put up runs in the remaining innings allowing the Islanders to only score four in the bottom of the fifth.
The Broncs put up two more runs in the fourth with one coming from a Nick Spears RBI single to center driving in Iradier Hernandez and the other on an Abraham Garcia RBI single to right bringing in Spears.
The Broncs made the score 7-6 in the fifth as the Broncs posted three runs. With runners on first and second, Bivone was driven in on a RBI single by Hernandez. Tim Tefft then doubled to right center driving in Jordan Rutenbar and with a ground out to second by Spears; Hernandez made the final run of the fifth.
UTPA added two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth with runs scored by Abraham Garcia and Jose Mendoza.
The Broncs recorded the second most runs in an inning with five runs scored in the seventh. Tefft scored on a RBI single by Bonham Hough which followed by a ground out to first base by Abraham Garcia driving in Spears. Garrett Bivone then singled to center bringing in Bonham Hough. The final two runs of the inning came on a double to center by Ryan Vest allowing Rutenbar and Bivone to score.
The Broncs final three runs of the contest came in the ninth as Garcia recorded a two RBI single to center driving in Nick Spears and Tim Tefft. Garcia grabbed the final run as he scored on a wild pitch.
Bonham Hough finished game two going 4-for-5 with three RBI and one run. Freshman Iradier Hernandez went 2-for-5 with one RBI and three runs while second baseman Abraham Garcia finished the evening 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs.
Relief pitcher Mike Lankford earned his first win of the season pitching three and two-third innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
The Broncs next head to San Antonio, Texas for the Notre Dame Classic scheduled for Friday, March 13 where UTPA will face Illinois State at noon and Notre Dame at 4:00 p.m. CT.
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