For Immediate Release: Sunday, February 16, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL TO SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE

ROUND ROCK, TX-Southwest Texas State scored seven runs in the second inning and went on to a 12-3 victory over The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team on the third and final day of action at the Round Rock Express College Classic at the Dell Diamond Sunday afternoon.

The Broncs were held scoreless until the ninth inning, when they broke through for three runs. Junior third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) doubled home junior pinch-hitter Aldo Alonzo (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS/UT-Brownsville) and sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) to make it 12-2. Freshman right fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) followed with a double to score Sisk.

The Bobcats broke the game open early, scoring seven runs on three hits in the second inning. Mark Coles led off and was hit with a pitch by starting pitcher Aaron Guerra (Fr. Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS). Richard Martinez walked, and Joey Zigal was hit with a pitch to load the bases. After Guerra fanned Mark Cooper, Jarrett Williams singled home one run, Dominic Ramos was hit by a pitch to score another, and Ignacio Suarez drew a walk to plate a third. Evan Tierce's single scored two more runs to make it 5-0, and Jacob Spencer's two-run triple capped the rally.

Cooper doubled in a run for SWT in the fourth, and another scored on an error in the fifth. The Bobcats added three runs in the seventh on two bases-loaded walks and an infield out.

Sisk, Alamia, sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) and sophomore designated hitter Juan Saenz (Mission, TX/Mission HS) each had two hits for the Broncs. Tierce finished with three runs batted in for the Bobcats, while Suarez, Spencer and Ramos each had a pair. Sophomore John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for Texas-Pan American, allowing no runs and no hits.

"That big inning they had was the ballgame," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "We had too many walks and hit batsmen, and we made some mistakes defensively. John Lopez pitched well in the last three innings, holding Southwest Texas scoreless. Our pitching staff has to do a better job of getting the ball over the plate."

Guerra, the Broncs' starter, took the loss and fell to 1-2, while Bobcat starter Paul Schappert, who pitched seven scoreless innings, earned the victory and improved to 1-1.

The Broncs dropped to 4-5 with their fourth consecutive defeat, while Southwest Texas improved to 4-5. UTPA will return to action when they host Incarnate Word in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.

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