April 15, 2009

The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program (7-31) earned a split against the SFA Lumberjacks this Wednesday (April 15) afternoon as they defeated the `Jacks 9-8 in extra innings and suffered an 11-3 loss in game two at Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches, TX.

UTPA 9, SFA 8
As the Broncs entered the top of the third trailing 2-1, UTPA had a turn-around inning and scored four runs to give the Broncs their first lead of the contest.

SFA started things off in the third with a walk and pulled starting pitcher Zach Taylor to put Travis Harrelson on the mound. With runners on second and third, Jose Salmon reached on a fielding error by the leftfielder allowing Nick Spears and Garrett Bivone to score.

On the next play, Salmon scored on a RBI double down the leftfield line by Jose Mendoza. The final run of the inning came from Mendoza on a RBI single to right by Abraham Garcia to give the Broncs a 5-2 lead.

SFA would score two runs in the bottom of the third and would remain scoreless until the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

With bases loaded in the eighth, `Jacks pitcher Jas West drew another walk for SFA to allow Ryan Vest to score. The Broncs scored twice in the ninth with the first run from Mendoza as he scored on a pass ball allowing him to cross home plate. Abraham Garcia then scored for the Broncs on a sacrifice hit to right field by Garrett Bivone.

The `Jacks were determined to defeat the Broncs but came up short in the ninth as they tied the ballgame with four runs. Starting pitcher Scott Wingo was taken out of the game after pitching eight and one-third innings while collecting five strikeouts and drawing seven walks and eight hits and runs.

Nathan Molina, who was tagged with the win, closed out the contest with one and two-third innings of work with one strikeout and walk and two hits.

As the Broncs entered extra innings, SFA loaded the bases with two outs on the board and decided to pull Alex Moshier and put Richard Folmer on the mound to close out the contest. With Folmer on the mound, Vest singled through the right side allowing Spears to score but ended the inning as Salmon was thrown out at home.

Jose Mendoza finished 2-for-4 for the Broncs with two RBI, two runs and a double.

SFA 11, UTPA 3
The Broncs did not have as much luck as they did in game one as they dropped an 11-3 decision in seven innings of play.

The Broncs scored in the opening inning on a double to left center by Ryan Vest scoring Abraham Garcia on a fielding error by the leftfielder.

The Broncs then scored in back-to-back frames in the third and fourth as Jose Mendoza scored on a single down the left field side by Vest and a single run in the fourth on a bases loaded walk allowing Andrew Perez to score.

SFA scored their 11 runs in four frames as the Broncs went through three pitching changes.

Garcia ended the contest with a 1-for-2 plate appearance along with one RBI, one run and a double.

The Broncs return to Edinburg Baseball Stadium as they play host to Texas Southern in a double-header on April 18 with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. CT.

UTPA Sports Information