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For Immediate Release: February 24, 2002 BRONCS DROP SERIES FINALE TO ILLINOIS
EDINBURG, TX –The University of Texas-Pan
American and Illinois took turns coming from behind in the final game of
their three-game baseball series at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Sunday
afternoon. The Illini scored the game’s final three runs in
the top of the ninth inning, then held off the Broncs in the bottom of
the ninth to claim a 10-9 victory. Starting pitchers Justin Dowd (Waxahachie,
TX/Waxahachie HS/Navarro JC) of UTPA and Josh Gold of Illinois sailed
through four scoreless innings before the Illini struck first in the top
of the fifth.Right fielder Joe Parenti led off with a home run, center
fielder Brandon Cashman was hit by a pitch, second baseman Brian Raymond
walked and left fielder Drew Davidson was also hit by a pitch. Shortstop
T.F. Meagher doubled home two runs, first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer
added a sacrifice fly, and catcher Patrick Arlis doubled to make it 5-0. The Broncs replied in kind in their next turn.
Freshman center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS) bunted
for a hit, junior shortstop Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills
HS/Northeast Texas CC) walked, and junior left fielder Bruce Kennedy
(Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) singled Mason home.
Sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights
HS/New Mexico) singled McCoy home, junior catcher Sean Flynn (Bradenton,
FL/Bradenton Christian School) singled Kennedy home, and freshman right
fielder Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) singled home Sisk. Freshman
first baseman Chris Jones (Colleyville, TX/Colleyville Heritage HS)
drove in a run with an infield out, and a single by freshman second
baseman Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) gave the Broncs a 6-5
lead. The Illini regained the lead in the top of the
sixth. Parenti walked and stole second, then scored on Cashman’s
two-run homer. UTPA regained the lead in the eighth. McCoy singled
and Kennedy beat out a bunt, but McCoy was cut down trying to go from
first to third. Sisk followed with a single. Freshman Carlos Gallardo
(Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) pinch hit, and hit into a fielder’s choice.
But shortstop T.F. Meagher threw wildly attempting to complete a double
play, and Kennedy scored the tying run. Freshman catcher Matt Eichel
(Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS) followed with a two-run homer to give UTPA
a 9-7 lead. Davidson and Meagher singled to begin the ninth,
and Schutzenhofer doubled to make it 9-8. Sophomore righthander Justin
Bogy (West Columbia, TX/West Columbia HS) relieved junior Skip Weast (Inola,
OK/Inola HS/Crowder JC) and induced Arlis to pop out. After an
intentional walk to Simmons, Bogy fanned Parenti, but Cashman doubled
down the left field line to give Illinois a 10-9 lead. The Broncs tried to mount a rally against the third
Illini pitcher, Ted Rowe. With one out, Garza walked and Mason doubled
him to third. McCoy popped to second, and after an intentional walk to
Kennedy, Sisk flied to left for the final out. Rowe earned the win and improved to 1-0, while
Weast took the loss and dropped to 0-1. “Our guys showed great effort and played their
tails off today,” said UTPA Head Coach Reggie Tredaway. “We had some
situations where we didn’t execute, and didn’t take advantage of our
opportunities. We have to get better at some of the small things that
will help us win. Matt Eichel had a big hit for us. Sean Flynn is our
number one catcher, but I’m not afraid to put Matt back there. He’s
a quality player, and he should get better. We have to learn to be more
consistent.” UTPA
fell to 2-9 with the defeat, while Illinois improved to 2-1. The Broncs
will host Texas-San Antonio Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader that
begins at 3:00 p.m. BBILLINOIS3022402
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