For Immediate Release: March 23, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS BLANKED AT TEXAS

AUSTIN, TX –In the first two games of their series, the University of Texas has showed why they have one of the top pitching staffs in the nation.

For the second consecutive game, the 15^th-ranked Longhorns shut out The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team, winning 9-0 at Disch-Falk Field Saturday afternoon.

Lefthanders Justin Simmons and Brantley Jordan combined to limit the Broncs to four hits. Freshman centerfielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) got two of them. His double down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning was UTPA’s first hit against Simmons, and his single to right field in the top of the eighth was the Broncs’ second hit against the UT starter. Junior shortstop Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) followed with an infield hit to shortstop, but Simmons struck out junior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) to retire the side. Sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) got the Broncs’ other hit, a single to center field leading off the ninth inning against Jordan.

Texas broke the game open with six runs in their last two at-bats against Bronc starter Travis Parker (Jr. Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville), who deserved a better fate. The Longhorns took a 1-0 lead in the second when right fielder Joe Ferin’s single drove in catcher Ryan Hubele, who had doubles, and added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth on a two-out, two-run homer by designated hitter Dustin Majewski after an error by McCoy.

In the seventh, the Longhorns made it 4-0 on third baseman Omar Quintanilla’s RBI single. Hubele led off the eighth by reaching on Sisk’s error, and UT filled the bases on a walk and a bunt single. Senior reliever Jacob Pierce (Longview, TX/Longview HS/Navarro JC) walked Ferin to force in a run, and Napoleon singled in two more. Only four of Texas’ nine runs were earned.  

"Travis Parker pitched very well," said UTPA Head Coach Reggie Tredaway. "Unfortunately, we couldn't get him any runs."

Simmons, who allowed three hits in eight innings, improved to 7-0. Parker, who limited UT to three earned runs, dropped to 1-6. The Broncs fell to 6-17 with the defeat, while Texas improved to 23-6.

The teams will finish their series at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.

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