GRAND FORKS, North Dakota – The University of Texas-Pan American's two-run rally in the ninth inning turned out to be naught. Houston Baptist's Robbie Buller hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of ninth to lead the Huskies past the Broncs 6-5 Tuesday in the opening round of the 2011 Great West Conference Tournament at Kraft Field.

The Broncs took an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Angel Ibañez scored on a throwing error by Husky starter Dalton Schafer. Mike McCarthy then came up and hit an RBI infield single to shortstop to drive in Vinnie Mejia to give UTPA the early two-run advantage. In the second inning Mejia added an RBI double to left to increase the UTPA lead to 3-0.

HBU began their rally in the bottom of the second. The Huskies would score five straight runs to take a 5-3 lead thorugh eight innings. HBU's two second-inning runs came off the bat of Beau Warren's two-run homer to left to pull the Huskies within 3-2.

HBU tied the game at 3-3 in the third on a Tanner Kalina RBI single to center-field. The Huskies added a pair of un-earned runs with single scores in the fifth and eighth innings to lead 5-3 entering the ninth inning.

The Broncs put up two-runs in the ninth on RBI hits from Roger Bernal and McCarthy to tie the game at 5-5. Buller's sacrifice fly came with the bases loaded and one-out in the ninth inning to bring the winning run across for HBU.

A.J. Franco did not figure into the decision for UTPA after throwing 7.2 innings allowing five runs, but only two earned, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Cody Plunk (L, 2-6) took the loss after pitching one inning and allowing the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Stephen Nikonchik (W, 4-4) earned the victory for HBU by pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

The loss moves UTPA into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament where they will face second-seeded Northern Colorado who lost to host North Dakota 5-1 on Tuesday night. The loser will be eliminated from the tournament. Neither team has named a starter.