For Immediate Release: March 15, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL TO REYNOSA IN 9^TH, 5-3

EDINBURG, TX –Rafael Castaneda’s two-run homer into the left field bullpen in the top of the ninth inning gave the Reynosa Broncos a 5-3 exhibition game victory over The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Friday night.

Castaneda drove a pitch from junior Skip Weast (Inola, OK/Inola HS/Crowder JC) over the left field fence, breaking a 3-all tie.

The Broncs held a 3-2 lead from the fourth inning until Reynosa tied it in the eighth. With UTPA trailing, 2-0, freshman center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS) led off the third inning with a double to left and moved to third on a single to right by junior shortstop Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC). Mason scored on an error by Reynosa second baseman Jose Tovar, while McCoy tied the score when he crossed the plate on a single by sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico).

The Broncs went ahead in the next inning. Junior designated hitter Jarrad Maddox (Houston, TX/Jersey Village HS/Northern Arkansas JC) was hit by a pitch, and was forced at second by junior catcher Sean Flynn (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian Academy). Flynn went to second on another error by Tovar, and scored on a double to left-center by freshman second baseman Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS). 

Reynosa tied it in the eighth. With one out, left fielder Jose malave walked and was forced at second base by Tovar, who moved up on a throwing error by freshman shortstop Omar Pena (Mission, TX/Mission HS). Angel Cota then beat out an infield hit, and Tovar scored on a throwing error by freshman second baseman Matt Hall (Katy, TX/Katy HS).

“I thought our young guys played pretty well,” said UTPA Head Coach Reggie Tredaway. “We made a few defensive mistakes, but, for the most part, we were crisp and we played with a lot of confidence. We got to use our whole staff. Skip hadn’t thrown in a couple of weeks, and he was a little rusty, but he threw strikes. Hopefully, what we did well will carry over against Kansas next week.”

Weast, the ninth and final UTPA pitcher, was the loser, as Tredaway used a different pitcher in each inning. Jose J. Lopez, the fourth Reynosa pitcher, earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

The Broncs will return to action when they host Kansas Tuesday evening. 

BOX SCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY

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