For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 29, 2004
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA BASEBALL SET FOR OPENING WEEKEND

EDINBURG, TX-After practicing for nearly four weeks, The University of Texas-Pan American's men's baseball team will face outside competition for the first time this season when they host Texas State-San Marcos in a two-game series this weekend. Game time Saturday evening is 7:00 p.m. Sunday's game begins at 12 noon at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

"We've been working hard since September to get to this point," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "We've gone through a lot of workouts in the fall, played our Green and White game, and we've been working hard this semester since we returned. We've been playing a lot of intra-squad games. Now we need to play someone else, and see where we're at."

The Broncs return 15 players and have added 17 newcomers to the team that went 21-33 last season in Gawlik's first year at UTPA. TSU-San Marcos returns 14 players from a team that went 30-28 a year ago, posting a 19-7 Southland Conference record, finishing second in league play and advancing to the conference tournament.

"Texas State has a nice ball club," said Gawlik. "They always have good pitching, they're well-coached, and they're solid. It will be a tough series."

Lefthanders Tom Robbins and Paul Schappert will probably start for TSU this weekend, while Gawlik will probably choose his starters from lefthanders Tommy Sorden (Sr. Austin, TX/Bowie HS/Navarro College) and John Lopez (Jr. Mission, TX/Mission HS) and righthanders Nick Gregory (Jr. Mesquite, TX/North Mesquite HS/Angelina College) and Aaron Guerra (So. Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS).

"We've got to find out about our team, and see how we play against outside competition," said Gawlik. "This will be our first opportunity. We're looking for some good weather, and hope for a good crowd to support us this weekend."

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