BOX SCORE

EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team used a three run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on for a 5-4 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago in their opening game of the season and the ninth annual Al Ogletree Classic Friday night at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Junior right-hander Jonathan Delgado (1-0) threw six innings and allowed just one earned run striking out six to earn his first win of 2011. The Flames lost both their games on Friday, dropping the tournament opener to Saint Louis University earlier in the day. It was the second straight season opening win for UTPA. The Broncs beat UT-Brownsville in the 2010 season opener 23-17.

“It's always good to start with a win especially against a quality program like (UIC),” UTPA Head Coach Manny Mantrana said. “We are still a work in progress, it's only the first game, some things still need to be cleaned up, but it's nice to start with a win.

The Broncs (1-0) struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Iradier Hernandez was hit by a Charlie Weinberg pitch to lead off the frame. Adrian De La Rosa moved Hernandez into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Tom Sickling drove home the game's first run with an RBI single to left, giving the Broncs the early 1-0 advantage.

Illinois-Chicago (0-2) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth inning to claim their first lead. In the fourth Alex De La Rosa singled with a line drive to center and moved to third on a pair of UTPA passed balls. He scored on the Jason Ganek single tying the game at 1-1. In the fifth De La Rosa scored

The lead for the Flames did not last long as the Broncs tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. Alex Carnall led off the inning with a double to left field. Carnall crossed home plate when Sickling's ground ball went underneath the glove of UIC second baseman Matt Serna, tying the game a 2-2.

The Broncs offense rallied for a three run frame in the third to re-claim the lead. Roger Bernall led off the inning with a line-drive single to right. Vinnie Mejia tagged his 1-1 offering down the left field line, scoring Bernal and re-claiming the lead for UTPA 3-2. Three batters later, Hernandez singled with the bases loaded, scoring Mejia adding the second run of the inning. De La Rosa, sacrificed in another run on a safety squeeze bunt giving the Broncs the 5-2 advantage.

The Flames made it interesting, adding a pair of runs in the seventh to make it a one-run game at 5-4. Roger Bernal came in from second base to close out the game in the ninth for the save.

“The middle of the line-up today did well, but there were a lot of un-sung heroes, De La Rosa played outstanding defensively he helped us win,” Coach Mantrana added. “We are a much better team than we were last year…I look forward to being competitive in every game we play this year.”

Weinberg (0-1) took the loss for the Flames allowing five runs, four earned, walking three batters and striking out three.

The Al Ogletree classic continues with a pair of games on Saturday. Saint Louis and Illinois Chicago begin tournament play on Saturday afternoon at 12:05. The Broncs face the SLU Billikens at 4:05 PM. All tournament games are played at Edinburg Baseball Stadium