April 8, 2009
For the first time in the program's history, the University of Texas-Pan American baseball program (6-27) faced the UT-Brownsville Scorpions in the "Battle of the Orange" at Edinburg Baseball Stadium where the Broncs outscored the Scorpions 15-2 this Wednesday (April 8) afternoon.
"The number one thing today was our pitching. Scott Wingo dominated today and credit must be given to him," said head coach Manny Mantrana. "When he (Wingo) pitches for us, he gives us a chance to win."
As UTPA trailed early on in the contest, the Broncs came to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice hit to leftfield by Abraham Garcia driving in Bonham Hough.
The Scorpions scored their single run in the second on a triple to leftfield by Walter Blume.
UTPA turned up the heat in the bottom of the seventh as the Broncs scored the most runs in an inning this season with 10 runs to give UTPA an 11-1 lead.
With shortstop Andrew Perez on third, Gabriel Salinas, who pinched hit for Jose Salmon, singled to left and advanced to second on the throw to home plate. The throw to home didn't reach the plate in time and scored Perez which in turn was thrown to second but was overthrown into center allowing Salinas to advance to third.
On the next play, Nick Spears reached on a fielder's choice as the Scorpions attempted to tag Salinas out at home. The throw didn't quite make it in time allowing Salinas to score to give the Broncs a 3-1 advantage.
On a double down the leftfield line, Bonham Hough was able to drive in Ryan Vest and Nick Spears for two more runs in the seventh. In return, Hough was able to score on the next play on a RBI single by Jose Mendoza. Mendoza then crossed the plate on a sacrifice hit to center by Garrett Bivone.
As the rotation came around, Spears cleared the bases on a double down the rightfield line allowing Salinas, Rutenbar and Perez to score for 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh.
In his fourth homerun of the season, Garrett Bivone blasted a shot over the leftfield wall for a two-run homerun in the bottom of the eighth. The Broncs scored two more runs to finish out the eighth with a run coming from Perez on a RBI double to left center by Salinas and the other coming from Salinas on a bases-loaded walk to give the Broncs a 15-1 lead.
The Scorpions were able to score one more run in the ninth.
In his second complete game of the season, starting pitcher Scott Wingo was tagged with his second win of the season while Diego Garcia grabbed the loss for the Scorpions. Centerfield Bonham Hough finished the contest 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, two doubles and a stolen base. Garrett Bivone finished 1-for-4 for the Broncs with a homerun, three RBI and one run.
The Broncs then host the TCU Horned Frogs for a three-game series starting this Thursday (April 9) with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
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