March 6, 2009

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program (0-10) faced No. 23 Alabama on the second day of the Whataburger College Classic this Friday (Mar. 6) at Whataburger Field where the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Broncs 14-1.

"We played well for the first seven innings and then we imploded in the last two. The same things keep coming up for us and we just need to work through those things," said head coach Manny Mantrana. "We walked a couple of guys and eventually a hit will get through."

The Broncs gave up two runs in the third but responded back with a run late in the fourth as Ryan Vest flied out to centerfield bringing in first baseman Garrett Bivone.

UTPA gave up three more runs with one in the fifth and two in the seventh to give Bama a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the eighth, Ross Wilson flied out to centerfield, what looked like a grand slam, was caught just below the outfield fence by Billy Donaho but the Broncs allowed Josh Rutledge to score to give the Crimson Tide a 7-1 lead.

Once again, the Broncs had their one bad inning in the ninth as Tim Tefft gave up a grand slam, for a total of six runs, to make the score 14-1.

Senior centerfielder Billy Donaho went for a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, while starting pitcher Anthony Garcia earned his second loss of the season.

The Broncs return to Whataburger Field tomorrow afternoon as they face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with first-pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.

UTPA Sports Information