For Immediate Release: March 2, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS DROP TWINBILL AT LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

OPENER

LAFAYETTE, LA –Justin Gabriel and Andy Gros combined on a six-hitter as the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s baseball team defeated The University of Texas-Pan American, 5-1, in the first game of their doubleheader at Tigue Moore Field Saturday evening.

The Ragin’ Cajuns scored three times in the first inning and to take the lead for good. Designated hitter Scott Carboni walked and advanced to second on a single by right fielder Corey Coles. Left fielder Bryan Sneed followed with a three-run homer over the right field fence.

UL-Lafayette added another run in the third inning. Coles beat out an infield hit and advanced to second on Sneed’s single. Bronc junior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville) struck out third baseman Robert Shelton, and got second baseman Justin Boruque to bounce out, advancing the runners. But Coles scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

UTPA broke through in the fourth. Junior right fielder Skip Weast (Inola, OK/Inola HS/Crowder JC) led off with a double and moved to third when freshman first baseman Carlos Gallardo (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) grounded out. Freshman center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS) beat out an infield single to third base, allowing Weast to score.

The Broncs threatened again in the fifth. Freshman left fielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) singled and stole second, and senior designated hitter Adam Farek (Crockett, TX/Crockett HS/Cedar Valley CC) walked. Junior catcher Sean Flynn (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian Academy) hit into a fielder’s choice, and Weast walked to load the bases. Gabriel then struck out Gallardo to retire the side.

The Ragin’ Cajuns scored their final run in the sixth. Bourque led off with a triple and scored on a single by first baseman Phillip Hawke.

Parker allowed five runs and eight hits, pitching six innings and taking the loss to drop to 0-5. Senior Ed Marko (Cleveland, OH/Notre Dame-Cathedral-Latin?Cleveland State) followed with two innings of scoreless relief. Gabriel improved to 2-0, pitching six innings, while Gros earned his second save of the season.

The Broncs fell to 2-12, while UL-Lafayette improved to 8-3.

NIGHTCAP

LAFAYETTE, LA –Louisiana-Lafayette scored eight runs in their final two at-bats and defeated The University of Texas-Pan American’s baseball team, 12-5, in the second game of their doubleheader at Tigue Moore Field Saturday night. 

UL-Lafayette was leading, 4-3, when they came to bat in the seventh inning and erupted for five runs.

The Broncs, who trailed after two innings, 3-0, scored twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth to close the gap to 4-3. Freshman first baseman Chris Jones (Colleyville, TX/Colleyville Heritage HS) led off with an infield hit to third base and advanced to second on a single by freshman center fielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS). Both runners moved up on an infield out. One out later, sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) doubled to left field to make it 4-2. Freshman catcher Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS) greeted reliever Donnie Bair with a home run to left field in the sixth to make it 4-3.

UL-Lafayette then extended their lead, taking advantage of four UTPA errors in the bottom of the seventh inning. Shortstop Chase Lambin knocked in one run with a sacrifice fly, and the other runs scored on errors by Sisk, Jones, and freshman shortstop Omar Pena (Mission, TX/Mission HS). Lambin’s three run homer in the eighth inning made it 12-3.

UTPA added a pair in the ninth. Junior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) singled and Sisk doubled him to third. Both scored on a single by freshman Juan Saenz (Mission, TX/Mission HS). 

Brandt Ray pitched the first five innings for UL-Lafayette, earned the win, and improved his record to 1-0. Bair finished and earned his first save. Senior Frank James (Elgin, TX/Elgin HS/Navarro JC) pitched the first six innings, and took the loss, dropping his record to 2-3. .

The Broncs fell to 2-13 with the defeat, while UL-Lafayette improved to 9-3. The Broncs and Ragin’ Cajuns will complete their three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

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