March 15, 2009
On day two of the 2009 Irish Baseball Classic, the Broncs (3-15) faced the Fighting Irish in a double header at Nelson W. Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, Texas as they dropped game one 10-7 and the second 7-2.
Notre Dame 10, UTPA 7
Brand new day means brand new beginnings for the Broncs as they put up four runs in the first two frames of play. The Broncs posted a lone run in the first on a sac bunt by Esequiel Garza allowing Iradier Hernandez to score.
In the second inning, the Broncs marked three runs on the board as Abraham Garcia singled to the right field line allowing Jose Mendoza and Gabriel Salinas to score. On an RBI single to left center by Jordan Rutenbar, Iradier Hernandez brought in the third run of the second for the Broncs.
Notre Dame went scoreless for the first three innings but scored three runs in the fourth. The Fighting Irish then opened up their lead to 10-4 after the seventh on five runs scored in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Broncs then put up a late run in the ninth as Gabriel Salinas fouled out to left field allowing Garza to score with two outs on the board. UTPA added one more run on a RBI single to center by Nick Spears allowing Bivone to score to make the score 10-6 Notre Dame. UTPA's final run came off a RBI single to center by Mendoza allowing Ryan Vest to cross the plate.
Jose Mendoza finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run with Doug Roth grabbing the loss for the Broncs putting him at 0-2 for the season.
The Fighting Irish's first baseman Casey Martin finished 4-for-5 with one RBI and one run with Brian Dupra earning the win
Notre Dame 7, UTPA 2
The Broncs struggled in the second game of the double header as they remained scoreless in the first six innings, only recording six hits and three errors.
Notre Dame posted four runs in two innings to give the Fighting Irish a 4-0 advantage.
The Broncs then allowed Notre Dame to score three more runs in the sixth to make the score 7-0.
The Broncs posted a run in the seventh after Nick Spears was hit by a pitch with bases loaded bringing Esequiel Garza home. First baseman Garrett Bivone scored the final run for the Broncs as Jose Mendoza reached on a fielder's choice.
Nick Spears finished 2-for-2 with one RBI with Scott Wingo grabbing the loss with two strikeouts and three walks.
The Broncs will return to Edinburg Baseball Stadium as they play host to Jackson State on Monday, March 16 with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.
UTPA Sports Information
