March 21, 2009
The Broncs (5-17) couldn't have asked for a better day for baseball at Edinburg Baseball Stadium as they played host to Prairie View A&M this Saturday, March 21 in a double-header where the Broncs defeated the Panthers 5-4 in game one and 5-3 in game two.
"We had better pitching today and when you hold your opponents down to four runs you have a really good chance to win - that is our goal every game," said head coach Manny Mantrana. "Hopefully we get good pitching and we might have a chance to sweep them (Prairie View) tomorrow."
UTPA 5, Prairie View A&M 4
Entering the eighth, the Broncs trailed by two runs with the Panthers winning 4-2. Both the Broncs and Panthers posted double runs in the second with Prairie View scoring single runs in the fourth and seventh.
UTPA exploded in the bottom of the eighth as they scored three runs to defeat the Prairie View 5-4. With runners on first and second, Bonham Hough scored on a RBI single down the middle by Jordan Rutenbar to put the Broncs at 4-3.
On what was thought to be a foul ball down the right field line, turned out to be a RBI single for Jordan Rutenbar, driving in Jose Mendoza for the tying run. On the following play, Ryan Vest singled to left center driving in Jordan Rutenbar to make the score 5-4.
Second baseman Jose Mendoza finished game one 3-for-4 with one RBI, two runs and a double while Nathan Molina earned his first win of the season in two-innings pitched.
PVAMU's Brandon Kendricks finished game one 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI.
UTPA 5, Prairie View 3
The Broncs got off to an early start in game two as they put up two runs in the first on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Rutenbar driving in Bonham Hough and on a double to left by Garrett Bivone driving in Jose Mendoza.
Prairie View tied the score at two after the third inning on runs posted in the second and third.
The Broncs then came back to take the lead on three runs scored in three frames of play. The first came off a solo homerun off the left field wall by Ryan Vest in the fourth followed by a RBI single to center by Jose Mendoza driving in Iradier Hernandez.
Vest then scored on a RBI single down the left field line by catcher Nick Spears to give the Broncs a 5-2 advantage.
Prairie View was able to score a single run in the top of the seventh but it still wasn't enough to bring back the Panthers.
Jose Mendoza finished game two 2-for-3 with a RBI, one run and a stolen base while Shane Janecka earned his first win of the season as he recorded five strikeouts and one walk.
The Broncs wrap-up the three-game series against Prairie View on Sunday, March 22 with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
UTPA Sports Information
