For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 01, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION LIFTS BRONCS OVER BOBCATS

EDINBURG, TX--The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team knew there would be a fireworks display after the game. However, the Broncs gave the 3,604 fans in attendance some in-game fireworks, earning their first season-opening win in six years, when they defeated Southwest Texas State, 11-3 at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Saturday night.

The Broncs had 11 hits in front of one of the largest crowds in UTPA baseball history to win their first game under new Head Coach Willie Gawlik. With the win, Texas-Pan American improved to 1-0, while SWT fell to 0-1.

"We didn't know what to expect from our first game," said Gawlik. "We shook off a shaky first inning and played tough the rest of the way."

Trailing 3-0 in the second inning, UTPA rallied for two runs. Sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) and sophomore catcher Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS) led off the inning, and both were hit by Bobcat starting pitcher Bobby Sawicki. They moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore center fielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS). Freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer's (Forney, TX/Forney HS) run-scoring fielder's choice allowed Ortiz to score from third. Gilmer stole second, and scored on a single to left field by senior right fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC). Senior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) ignited a Bronc rally in the third inning. He doubled to lead off the inning, and scored to tie the game on sophomore designated hitter Juan Saenz's (Mission, TX/Mission HS) single to center field. The Broncs then took the lead for good on an Ortiz RBI single up the middle.

Texas-Pan American exploded for six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Kennedy capped the rally by smashing a three-run homer off the left field foul pole.

The Bobcats capitalized on three walks and a UT Pan American error in the first inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Senior pitcher Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Homer Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville) walked the first three batters, but the Broncs caught Ignacio Suarez stealing third base. Mark Cooper's RBI double to left gave SWT a 1-0 lead, and their only earned run of the game. Later in the inning, Jacob Spencer scored on a throwing error, and Cooper scored on a wild pitch.

UTPA out hit the Bobcats 11-2, but allowed nine SWT batters to reach base on walks. Southwest Texas State's pitchers walked two batters, but also hit two.

Parker picked up the win for the Broncs, limiting Southwest Texas State to two hits over five innings, striking out three, and giving up just one earned run. Junior Tommy Sorden (Austin, TX/Bowie HS/Navarro College) held the Bobcats hitless over three and a third innings, while junior Johnny Gibson (Sachse, TX/Naaman Forest HS/Collin County CC) recorded the final two outs. Kennedy went two-for-five with three runs batted in, a double, and a home run. Saenz went two-for-four with a double and two RBI.

"Travis came out and did a good job," said Gawlik. "If not for the error, we wouldn't have given up so many runs."

Sawicki suffered the loss for Southwest Texas State, allowing five runs on five hits over two and one third innings. Cooper and Marc Coles each had a hit for the Bobcats.

Texas-Pan American will return to action on Sunday, when they host a doubleheader against Schreiner. The first pitch will be at 1:00 p.m.

"Tomorrow is another game," said Gawlik. "We have to come out and play. If you don't, you get beaten."

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