April 18, 2009
The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program (8-32) earned a split in today's double-header as the Broncs defeated the Tigers 13-5 in game and fell short 6-5 in game two this Saturday (April 18) afternoon at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
"We played a great second game. We finally got to start A.J. and his arm felt great; we now have another pitcher on our staff since he's been in and out all year," said head coach Manny Mantrana.
UTPA 13, Texas Southern 5
The Broncs started off strong as they scored three runs in the opening inning and left the Tigers scoreless until the third.
The Broncs scored on back-to-back plays as UTPA posted two runs on a double down the left line by Andrew Perez allowing Bonham Hough and Abraham Garcia to cross the plate. Perez marked the third run of the inning on a double to right center by Jose Salmon.
UTPA then scored six runs in three frames as they scored two runs in the third, three in the fourth and a single in the fifth. Perez scored for the Broncs once again, but this time on a sacrifice hit to right by Jordan Rutenbar. Salmon brought in the next run as he scored on an error by the shortstop.
Bonham Hough scored the first run in the fourth as he crossed the plate on a RBI single to center by Garrett Bivone. Hough also brought in the lone run in the fifth on a RBI single to right.
The last two runs in the fourth would be driven in by Salmon as he singled to right allowing Perez and Bivone to score.
After two scoreless innings, the Tigers came back and scored four runs in the sixth to make the score 9-5.
The Broncs answered back to the Tigers four-run sixth as Bonham Hough hit at two-out grand slam allowing Ryan Vest, Abraham Garcia and Nick Spears to score. A fly out to center by Bivone would close out the inning.
Bonham Hough and Jose Salmon finished 3-for-4 for the Broncs as Hough collected four RBI, four runs, two doubles, a stolen base and a grand slam. Salmon added another three RBI, one run and a double.
Shortstop Andrew Perez went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate along with three RBI, three runs and two doubles. In a career-high outing of five and one-third innings pitched, starting pitcher Tim Tefft was tagged with his first win of the season as he struck out a career-high six batters and walked five.
Texas Southern 6, UTPA 5
The Broncs opened up the second game with three runs in the first two innings of play. Andrew Perez scored on a sacrifice hit to right by Bonham Hough in the first. In the bottom of the second, designated hitter Iradier Hernandez scored on a bases-loaded balk followed by a single run by Jose Salmon as he crossed the plate on a sac bunt.
UTPA gave up two runs in the second as the Tigers scored two runs on a single to left center.
The Broncs then went on to score a single run in the fourth as Hernandez scored on a wild pitch by Tiger's pitcher Ehren Moreno (4-3), who pitched a complete game and was tagged with the win.
The Tigers came back in the fifth and sixth as they scored four runs to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Texas Southern managed to score a single in the fifth on a single to left center and another two in the sixth with the first coming from a wild pitch by Nathan Molina and the next on a sacrifice hit to left.
The Broncs managed to come within one in the bottom of the seventh as Jordan Rutenbar scored on a sacrifice hit to center by Andrew Perez.
Leftfielder Jose Salmon added a 2-for-3 plate appearance for the Broncs in game two along with one run. Sophomore A.J. Franco saw his first start of the season after battling an arm injury from last season. With five and one-third innings of work, Franco was charged with the loss as he struck out three batters and walked none.
The Broncs wrap up the weekend against Texas Southern (16-20) tomorrow afternoon with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
UTPA Sports Information
