April 25, 2009
A late rally by the Panthers cost the Broncs in game one, but a complete game by A.J. Franco lifted the Broncs to a 7-5 win in game two of today's double-header over the Prairie View Panthers this Saturday (April 25) afternoon at the PV Baseball Complex.
Prairie View 11, UTPA 10
The Broncs put themselves in contention to win in the top of the ninth after scoring four runs for a 10-9 advantage over the Panthers, but fell short as they allowed PVAMU to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
The Broncs started off with a lone run in the second on a double to left allowing Iradier Hernandez to score. UTPA then went on to score five runs in three frames of work to trail 8-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
UTPA started things off in the fourth with a homerun to left center by Jordan Rutenbar. With a runner on first, Abraham Garcia recorded the second homerun of the inning as he drove in Iradier Hernandez.
Andrew Perez then scored the only run of the fifth on a homerun for the team's third bomb of the game. On a RBI single to down the middle, Abraham Garcia scored the sixth run for the Broncs.
The Broncs allowed the Panthers to score one more run in the eighth but came back with a four-run ninth to lead 10-9. Jordan Rutenbar and Nick Spears scored two-run homeruns allowing Garrett Bivone and Jose Salmon to cross the plate, respectively.
Along with two homeruns for the game, Jordan Rutenbar added a 3-for-5 plate appearance while driving in three runs and scoring two, along with a double.
In seven and one-third innings pitched, Tim Tefft recorded a season-high eight strikeouts while walking only two batters. Nathan Molina, who closed out the contest, was tagged with his sixth loss of the year in one inning pitched.
UPTA 7, Prairie View 5
After dropping a devastating 11-10 decision in game one, the Broncs came back in game two and scored six runs in the first three innings of play. The Broncs scored double runs in each of the first three innings.
The Broncs scored back-to-back runs in the first with runs scored by Bonham Hough and Andrew Perez. Hough scored on a fielder's choice, while Perez scored on a RBI single to center by Jordan Rutenbar.
The Broncs next two runs were scored by Abraham Garcia and Nick Spears as they scored on a single up the middle by Jose Mendoza. The following two runs for the Broncs were scored on a two-run homerun by Jordan Rutenbar as he drove in Perez.
UTPA allowed the Panthers to score two runs in the opening inning with runs scored by John Villapondo and Odie Davis.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Broncs were able to score a lone run in the fifth on a homerun to right by Abraham Garcia.
The Panthers put pressure on the Broncs in the bottom of the sixth as the Panthers hit two homeruns to come within two of the Broncs to make the score 7-5. The Panthers Oscar Reed hit the first homerun of the inning and Darryl Johnson hit a two-run bomb to left center driving in James Murphy.
The Broncs were able to hold the Panthers back in their last attempt to score in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore A.J. Franco pitched his first complete game of the season with a season-high four strikeouts; Franco was tagged with his first win of the season.
Jordan Rutenbar added another great outing against Prairie View with a 3-for-4 plate appearance in game two, while driving in two Broncs
The Broncs wrap up the three-game series against the Panthers tomorrow (April 26) afternoon at the PV Baseball Complex with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
UTPA Sports Information
