For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 15, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL TO NEBRASKA

ROUND ROCK, TX- Nineteenth-ranked Nebraska was too much for The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team in their game at the Round Rock Express College Classic at the Dell Diamond Saturday afternoon.

Three Nebraska pitchers limited the Broncs to two hits in a 9-1 victory. With the win, the Cornhuskers improved to 2-0, while the Broncs fell to 4-4.

"Their pitchers did a good job," said Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "They held us to just two hits."

Neither team got a hit in the first three innings. Texas-Pan American mounted a threat in the third inning, when an error by NU third baseman Chase Odenreider allowed freshman left fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) to lead off the inning by reaching first base. Sophomore center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX /Jay HS) walked. Nebraska pitcher Brian Duensing escaped the jam when senior right fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/ Northeast Texas CC) popped up, and sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) grounded into a double play.

Nebraska struck first in the top of the fourth inning when first baseman Curtis Ledbetter drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a bunt, and went to third on a balk. Odenreider gave the Cornhuskers a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly that allowed Ledbetter to score. Shortstop Joe Simokaitis recorded the first hit of the game when he drove a two-out, two RBI single to right field to give NU a 3-0 lead.

Garza recorded UTPA's first hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, doubling to left field, and moving to third on freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer's (Forney, TX/Forney HS) single. Gilmer stole second base, drawing an errant throw by Nebraska catcher Matt Wells that allowed Garza to score and pull the Broncs to within 5-1.

The Cornhuskers added three runs in the eighth inning and one in the ninth for the final margin.

UT Pan American limited NU to six hits, but Nebraska capitalized on 10 walks and five hit batsmen. Nebraska pitchers allowed just two walks.

"We gave up 10 walks and five hit batters," said Gawlik. "You can't keep putting guys on base; we went from being down 3-0 to 5-1, then 9-1."

Garza's double and Gilmer's single were the only hits for the Broncs Junior pitcher Tommy Sorden (Austin, TX/Bowie HS/Navarro College) suffered his first loss, allowing five runs on two hits and seven walks over four innings. Duensing picked up the win for Nebraska, scattering two hits and two walks over six innings, while striking out three. Centerfielder Jeff Liese and Simokaitis each had two hits and two RBIs for Nebraska.

The Broncs will return to action Sunday afternoon, when they play Southwest Texas State at 3:00 p.m. in the final game of the Round Rock Express College Classic.

"Southwest Texas State is a good ball club," said Gawlik. "We'll need to play well against them."

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