For Immediate Release: May 4, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL AT TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX –Islander Field on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi campus was not a friendly place for The University of Texas-Pan American’s baseball team Saturday.

The Islanders slammed 27 hits in 12 at-bats and swept a doubleheader from the Broncs, 12-2 and 9-5.

UTPA scored the first two runs in the opener. Junior second baseman Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) led off the top of the first with a single, moved to second on a hit by junior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC), advanced to third on a fly ball, and scored on a single by freshman right fielder Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS). The Broncs went up, 2-0, in the third inning on a double by sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) and Ortiz’ single before the roof fell in.

TAMU-CC scored five times in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Shortstop Roberto Santana drove in the first run with a single, first baseman Humberto Aguilar singled in two more, and catcher Blair Bourque double home two unearned runs after an error by freshman center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS). 

The Islanders added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, then put the game away with four runs in the sixth. Bourque drove home the first two with a single, and right fielder John Denny’s double drove home the last two. Bourque finished the game with six runs batted in.

Jimmy Hamon (6-6) went all the way for the win for TAMU-CC. Senior righthander Mike Calvert (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS/Navarro JC) also pitched a complete game in defeat, falling to 0-2.

The teams exchanged second-inning runs in the nightcap. Junior right fielder Skip Weast (Inola, OK/Inola HS/Crowder JC) drew a one-out walk and was erased when freshman shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) hit into a fielder’s choice. Freshman first baseman Chris Jones (Colleyville, TX/Colleyville HS) walked, and junior catcher Sean Flynn (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian Academy) singled to score Garza.

The Islanders promptly tied it. Catcher Jimmy Fly and Denny singled, and Fly scored on Sisk’s error.

TAMU-CC grabbed the lead in the third. Aguilar doubled home one run, left fielder Angel Velazquez tripled home two more, and center fielder Michael Bruner drove in the fourth run with an infield hit.

The Broncs fought back. Ortiz led off the fourth with a double, and Weast followed with a homer over the center field fence. UTPA then loaded the bases on walks to Garza, Jones and Flynn. Freshman pinch-hitter David Leos (Los Angeles, CA/Venice HS/Fresno State) singled to drive in two runs and tie the score.

The Islanders promptly took the lead for good in their next at bat on Santana’s solo homer. They scored three times in the sixth on second baseman Hector Garanzuay’s double and Santana’s second homer of the game.

Michael Shandler, who pitched the last four innings, earned the win for TAMU-CC and improved to 1-4. Bronc starter Justin Bogy (So. West Columbia, TX/West Columbia HS) took the loss and fell to 4-5.

The Broncs fell to15-34 with the losses, while Texas A&M-CC improved to 23-29. The teams will play the final game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Islander Field.

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