BRONCS DROP SERIES OPENER AT MCNEESE STATE

Box Score and Narrative

LAKE CHARLES, LA –A couple of big innings were the undoing of the University of Texas-Pan American baseball team Friday night.

The Cowboys scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and added three more in the sixth en route to an 11-4 win against the Broncs in the opener of a three-game series at Cowboy Diamond. 

Junior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/UT-Brownsville/Homer Hanna HS) allowed a run on three hits in the first four innings before things unraveled in the fifth. First baseman Tommy Eubanks tripled in a run for MSU and scored on a wild pitch. After a walk and a single, catcher Ran Prince hit a three-run home run to make it 6-1he Cowboys added to their lead in the next inning on a sacrifice fly by left fielder P.J. Johnston and a two-run homer by third baseman Tim Lemke.

Junior shortstop Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) gave UTPA a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he led off by reaching on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch by starting and winning pitcher Craig Martel. The Broncs struck again in the sixth when sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/New Mexico/ Arlington Heights HS) singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by junior designated hitter Jarrad Maddox (Houston, TX/Jersey Village HS/Northern Arkansas JC).

The Broncs scored their final two runs in the ninth. Freshman Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS) pinch hit for senior center fielder Marvin Manns (Okmulgee, OK/Okmulgee HS/Crowder JC) and doubled. Senior Adam Farek (Crockett, TX/Crockett HS/Cedar Valley CC) pinch hit for senior second baseman Sergio Pompa (Mission, TX/Mission HS) and walked. Freshman Omar Pena’s (Mission, TX/Mission HS) double scored Mason, and freshman John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS), who ran for Farek, scored when the ball was misplayed.

“We got hurt by the big inning,” said UTPA Head Coach Reggie Tredaway. “It was tied, 1-1 in the fifth, and we gave up eight runs in the next two innings. Travis Parker pitched well for four innings, but they got to him in the fifth.”

Parker allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings and took the loss, dropping his record to 0-3. Martel allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings and was the winner, improving to 1-0.

The Broncs fell to 1-5 with the defeat, while the Cowboys improved to 3-3 with the victory. UTPA and McNeese State will resume their three-game series Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

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