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EDINBURG – Sophomore PSJA alum Bryan Ramirez launched a two-run home run as the University of Texas-Pan American Broncs scored three runs over their final two innings to beat the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 3-2 on opening day at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
 
The Broncs (1-0) trailed 1-0 from the top of the second through the top of the seventh, managing just a pair of singles and a walk against Matt Danford (0-1). In the bottom of the seventh, however, senior Alberto Morales hit a booming double off the top of the left field wall. Ramirez followed by working a full count, and then, on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, he drove the ball into the left field bullpen to give the Broncs the lead.
 
Morales was the lone Bronc with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
 
The Broncs scratched across an insurance run against reliever Kaleb Keith in the eighth, as freshman Victor Garcia Jr. worked a seven-pitch leadoff walk and later scored on a two-out single by senior Alex Howe.
 
That turned out to be important, as the Islanders (0-1) scored an unearned run against Clayton Haltom in the ninth before Haltom recorded the final out for his first save.
 
The Islanders scored their first run in the second. Tyler Ware led off with a triple and Brandon Tierney grounded out to score the run.
 
That was it against Sam Street (1-0), who pitched seven innings, striking out four while allowing six hits and one walk. He retired the final seven batters he faced.
 
Senior Kyle Tokunaga pitched a perfect eighth for his first hold.
 
Cody Stephens led the Islanders offensively, going 3-for-4 with two doubles out of the leadoff spot. Ware went 2-for-3 with a walk. Kyle Danford finished 2-for-2 with a run scored.
 
The Broncs and Islanders continue this four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. Right-handers Blake English and Matthew Harrell are expected to face right-handers Gavin Williamson and Tyler Schnuriger. Gates open at 12.

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