A photo of Thomas Williams in an orange top high fiving teammates in the UTRGV dugout. In the upper left corner is an SLC Southland Baseball Championship logo. In the upper right corner is an L&F Distributors logo. on the left is text saying May 14, 1 PM, vs #6 Northwestern State under which it says UP NEXT with a bracket graphic showing the UTRGV logo above the Northwestern State logo
Victoria Alvarado
Thomas Williams (#1)

Baseball

#3 Baseball Set for Southland Conference Opener vs. #6 Northwestern State

BEAUMONT – No. 3 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team (26-27) opens Southland Conference Tournament Bracket Play against the No. 6 Northwestern State Demons (25-24) on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The 6 p.m. game features No. 2 and host Lamar facing No. 7 Stephen F. Austin. The winners play Friday at 6 p.m. The losers play an eliminiation game Friday at 1 p.m. 

Conference Tournament Notes
  • This is the third time UTRGV is the No. 3 seed in a conference tournament. UTRGV went 3-2 as the No. 3 seed at the 2021 WAC Tournament, advancing to the WAC Tournament Championship Game. UTRGV went 1-2 as the No. 3 seed at the 2023 WAC Tournament. At both tournaments, UTRGV won its first game.
  • UTRGV is 15-29 all-time in NCAA Division I conference tournaments, including a 2-2 record in the Southland (2025-present), 7-12 record in the WAC (2014-24), 4-7 in the Great West (2010-13), 2-4 in the Sun Belt (1992-98), and 0-4 in the American South (1989-91).

All-Time vs. Northwestern State
  • UTRGV is 3-8 all-time against Northwestern State in a series dating back to 2013 after getting swept in a home series last month.

Last Time Out @ Tarleton State (May 8-10)

@ Tarleton State (5/10)
 
  • UTRGV took the series finale 4-2.
  • Making his second-career appearance, freshman Augie Grohman earned his first-career save with 2.0 scoreless innings and the first two strikeouts of his career.
  • Sophomore Mason Engel earned his first-career win by pitching 3.0 innings of one-hit relief.
  • Senior Víctor Loa started and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out three.
  • Junior Easton Moomau homered while going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
 
@ Tarleton State (5/9)
 
  • UTRGV fell to Tarleton State 10-8.
  • Making his first start in left field, junior Andrew Taylor went 2-for-2 with his first double, a walk, two RBI, and a career-high tying two runs scored.
  • Junior Chayton Fischer finished a career-high tying 2-for-4 with a double and a career-high tying two runs scored.
  • Graduate student Diego Villescas went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
  • Junior Rocco Garza Gongora homered for the second-straight game while driving-in four runs.
  • Junior JC Gutierrez pitched 2.0 perfect innings of relief, striking out a career-high tying four. He has now pitched 7.1 hitless innings across his last two outings.
  • Freshman Calvin Junek made his collegiate debut, pitching a scoreless eighth and notching his first-career strikeout.
 
@ Tarleton State (5/8)
 
  • UTRGV dropped the opener 7-4.
  • Three of UTRGV's four runs came via the long ball, as junior Julius Ramirez hit a solo shot and junior Rocco Garza Gongora added a two-run shot.
  • Senior Steven Oliva made his first appearance since April 3, striking out two in a hitless inning.
National Honors
 
March 7 – Armani Raygoza, D1Baseball Top Hitters for March 6
March 10 – Sergio Lopez, College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Week
March 24 – Armani Raygoza, D1Baseball #16 First Baseman Through Six Weeks
May 5 – Armani Raygoza, D1Baseball #12 First Baseman Through 12 Weeks
May 6 – Thomas Williams, D1Baseball #47 Second Baseman Through 12 Weeks
 
Southland Strong
 
UTRGV All-Southland Conference Honorees
Player of the Year: Armani Raygoza, UTRGV
 
First Team All-Conference
1B             Armani Raygoza
OF             Rocco Garza Gongora
DH            Julius Ramirez
 
Second Team All-Conference
3B             Easton Moomau
RP             Kike Cienfuegos
 
All-Defensive Team
CF             Rocco Garza Gongora
RF             Hank Warren
 
  • Armani Raygoza is the first player to ever earn multiple Southland Conference Player of the Year Awards, doing so in back-to-back seasons. Raygoza also earned first team honors for the second-straight season after doing so at DH last year.
  • Junior Easton Moomau is an all-conference honoree for the second-straight season.
  • UTRGV leads the Southland in total players honored (six) and first team honorees (three) while tying for the most all-defensive honorees (two) and ranking second in total honors (eight).
 
UTRGV Weekly Southland Conference Honors
Feb. 16 – Armani Raygoza, Hitter of the Week Honorable Mention
Feb. 23 – Julius Ramirez, Hitter of the Week Honorable Mention
March 9 – Armani Raygoza, Co-Hitter of the Week
March 16 – Thomas Williams, Hitter of the Week Honorable Mention
March 23 – Armani Raygoza, Hitter of the Week
 
Among the NCAA Leaders
 
Statistic Total NCAA Rank SLC Rank
Walks 283 20 1
Hits 501 57 1
Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings 4.03 68 2
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio 2.19 72 3
Fielding Percentage .975 83 4
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings 8.8 85 4
Home Runs 59 88 4
Double Plays 36 99 9
 
Player Stat Total NCAA Rank SLC Rank
Armani Raygoza BB 48 13 1
HR 17 32 1
BB/G 0.91 39 1
TB 124 72 1
HR/G 0.32 73 1
Runs 51 141 3
SLG% .623 143 1
RBI 49 145 2
Rocco Garza Gongora 2B 19 24 1
2B/G 0.36 76 1
Runs 53 101 1
Hits 67 146 2
Sergio Lopez K/9 10.62 105 4
K:BB 3.68 109 5
Kike Cienfuegos W 7 51 1
SV 2 349 11
Easton Moomau BB 39 79 4
Julius Ramirez RBI 49 145 2
Harrison Thayer W 6 96 2
Thomas Williams Hits 67 146 2
 
Raring to Raygoza
   
Rank Name Home Runs Years
1. Armani Raygoza 40 2024-Present
2. Brandon Pimentel 31 2022-23
3. Mitchell Moran (HOF) 27 1981-83
4. Isaac Lopez 22 2022-25
T-5. Freddy Rojas Jr. 21 2020-22
T-5. Jesse Gutierrez 21 2000
T-7. Vinnie Mejia 19 2010-12
T-7. Matt Siskowski 19 1994-97
T-7. Ray De Leon 19 1990-91
T-10. Leo Salinas 18 1997-00
T-10. Robert Johnson 18 1979-81
 
Rank Name RBI Years
1. Armani Raygoza 137 2024-Present
2. Vinnie Mejia 136 2010-12
3. Mitchell Moran (HOF) 130 1981-83
4. Isaac Lopez 128 2022-25
T-5. Matt Siskowski 121 1994-97
T-5. Lance Sardelich 121 1989-91
T-7. Brandon Pimentel 120 2022-23
T-7. Leo Salinas 120 1997-00
9. Steven Lancia 114 2022-25
10. Angel Ibanez 112 2010-12
 
  • Raygoza is also having one of the best seasons in program history:
 
Rank		 Name Home Runs Year
1. Jesse Gutierrez 21 2000
2. Mitchell Moran (HOF) 20 1983
3. Brandon Pimentel 19 2023
T-4. Armani Raygoza 17 2026
T-4. Armani Raygoza 17 2025
T-4. Martin Vazquez 17 2024
T-7. Dale Brown 14 1981
T-7. Robert Johnson 14 1980
T-9. Brandon Pimentel 12 2022
T-9. Andy Ness 12 1999
T-9. Rafael Barbosa 12 1983
T-9. Bobby Joe Williams 12 1983
 
Double Trouble
   
Rank Name Doubles Year
1. Garrett Bivone 23 2010
T-2. Rocco Garza Gongora 19 2026
T-2. Ivan Estrella 19 2017
T-2. Osiel Flores 19 2007
T-5. Alex Howe 18 2014
T-5. Bonham Hough 18 2009
T-5. Tony Ortiz 18 2003
T-5. Tommy Supak 18 1980
T-9. Armani Raygoza 17 2025
T-9. Vinnie Mejia 17 2012
T-9. Stuart MacInnes 17 2010
T-9. Steve Redden 17 1997
T-9. Matt Siskowski 17 1996
T-9. Bill Savarino 17 1985
 
Defensive Wizards
 
  • Senior right fielder Hank Warren and junior center field Rocco Garza Gongora have played flawless defense all season, putting together some of the longest errorless streaks in program history.
 
Rank Name Games Years
1. Leo Salinas (OF) 86 1998-00
2. Hank Warren (RF) 82 2025-Present
3. Adrian De La Rosa (OF) 79 2010-12
4. Brandon Pimentel (1B/LF) 70 2022-23
5. Alex Howe (OF/C) 64 2013-14
6. Mike Tackett (P/OF) 59 1968-71
7. Lamberto Ung (1B) 58 1999-00
8. Montclair Cain (OF) 57 2022-23
9. Bonham Hough (OF) 56 2008-09
10. Zerek Saenz (OF) 55 2023
T-11. Rocco Garza Gongora (CF/1B) 53 2026-Present
T-11. Wayne Simmons (OF/1B) 53 1984-87
T-13. Mike Beeler (OF/1B) 46 1973-74
T-13. Rene Torres (OF) 46 1966-69
15. Willie Gawlik 45 1970-71
 

Pack the Park
  • UTRGV currently ranks 35th in the NCAA is total attendance (74,465) and 22nd in average attendance (3,723) and is amid the second-best attended season in program history.
Rank Season Dates Fans Avg.
1. 2025 26 82,258 3,164
2. 2026 20 74,465 3,723
3. 2024 28 62,132 2,219
4. 2023 28 45,461 1,624
5. 1975 26 39,700 1,323
6. 1972 20 38,400 1,920
7. 1971 26 37,450 1,440
NR 2022 24 37,220 1,551
 
  • UTRGV opened the season by welcoming two of the nine largest crowds in program history, including the largest Friday crowd and largest opening night crowd with 5,852 vs. Kansas (2/13) and fifth largest Saturday crowd with 5,040 (2/14). UTRGV capped the weekend with the largest Sunday crowd in program history with 2,291 (2/15), leading to the largest weekend series crowd in program history at 13,193.
  • UTRGV set a program and Tuesday attendance record by welcome 6,588 fans vs. Texas Tech (2/17).
  • UTRGV has on welcomed a program record six crowds of 5,000+ this season.
 
Rank Fans Opponent Date
1. 6,588 Texas Tech 2/17/26
2. 6,537 Stephen F. Austin 4/12/25
3. 6,473 Southeastern 4/17/26
4. 6,418 No. 6 Texas 4/26/22
5. 6,324 HCU 3/22/25
6. 6,189 Texas State 5/13/25
7. 6,044 UT Arlington 4/6/24
8. 5,862 Kansas 2/13/26
9. 5,548 UIW 5/1/26
10. 5,374 Utah Valley 4/13/24
11. 5,231 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3/28/26
12. 5,111 Texas Southern 3/18/25
13. 5,040 Kansas 2/14/26
14. 4,900 Arizona 5/28/76
 
  • UTRGV has welcomed 35 of its largest 37 crowds since moving into UTRGV Baseball Stadium (2002) since 2023.
Rank Fans Opponent Date
1. 6,588 Texas Tech 2/17/26
2. 6,537 Stephen F. Austin 4/12/25
3. 6,473 Southeastern 4/17/26
4. 6,418 No. 6 Texas 4/26/22
5. 6,324 Houston Christian 3/22/25
6. 6,189 Texas State 5/13/25
7. 6,044 UT Arlington 4/6/24
8. 5,862 Kansas 2/13/26
9. 5,548 UIW 5/1/26
10. 5,374 Utah Valley 4/13/24
11. 5,231 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3/28/26
12. 5,111 Texas Southern 3/18/25
13. 5,040 Kansas 2/14/26
14. 4,589 McNeese 4/26/25
15. 4,451 Sacramento State 5/17/24
16. 4,408 Incarnate Word 4/22/25
17. 4,352 Nicholls 3/15/25
18. 4,314 Sacramento State 5/18/24
19. 4,313 Grand Canyon 3/23/24
20. 4,261 Grand Canyon 5/12/23
21. 4,131 UIW 5/2/26
22. 4,121 New Orleans 3/7/26
23. 4,025 McNeese 4/25/25
T-24. 4,017 New Orleans 3/6/26
T-24. 4,017 Houston 3/4/23
26. 3,962 Stephen F. Austin 4/26/24
27. 3,937 Southern Illinois 2/14/25
28. 3,915 Stephen F. Austin 4/27/24
29. 3,618 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3/28/26
30. 3,604 Texas State 2/1/03
31. 3,381 Houston Christian 5/16/25
32. 3,524 Southeastern 4/18/26
33. 3,523 Northwestern State 4/2/26
34. 3,345 Lamar 3/1/25
35. 3,334 Houston Christian 3/21/25
36. 3,215 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 5/15/25
37. 3,144 Houston 3/3/23
38. 3,111 Lamar 2/28/25

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Players Mentioned

Steven Lancia

#4 Steven Lancia

C
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Isaac Lopez

#12 Isaac Lopez

IF
5' 10"
Graduate Student
R/R
Martin Vazquez

#32 Martin Vazquez

IF
5' 11"
Fifth Year
R/R
Kike Cienfuegos

#15 Kike Cienfuegos

RHP
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Easton Moomau

#23 Easton Moomau

IF
6' 2"
Junior
L/R
Steven Oliva

#17 Steven Oliva

RHP
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Armani Raygoza

#11 Armani Raygoza

IF
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Harrison Thayer

#14 Harrison Thayer

RHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Hank Warren

#21 Hank Warren

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Thomas Williams

#1 Thomas Williams

IF
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
S/R

Players Mentioned

Steven Lancia

#4 Steven Lancia

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
C
Isaac Lopez

#12 Isaac Lopez

5' 10"
Graduate Student
R/R
IF
Martin Vazquez

#32 Martin Vazquez

5' 11"
Fifth Year
R/R
IF
Kike Cienfuegos

#15 Kike Cienfuegos

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
Easton Moomau

#23 Easton Moomau

6' 2"
Junior
L/R
IF
Steven Oliva

#17 Steven Oliva

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Armani Raygoza

#11 Armani Raygoza

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
IF
Harrison Thayer

#14 Harrison Thayer

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Hank Warren

#21 Hank Warren

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
OF
Thomas Williams

#1 Thomas Williams

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
S/R
IF