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For Immediate
Release: Tuesday, March 4, 2003 BRONCOS DOWN BRONCS EDINBURG, TX-For most of the game, The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team gave the Reynosa Broncos of the Mexican League all they could handle in their exhibition game at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Tuesday night. The Broncos scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to pull away from the Broncs, earning a 7-4 victory. Texas-Pan American used the long ball for their first three runs. Reynosa scored three runs in the top of the first inning against UTPA starter Ricky Anderson (So. Corinth, TX/Lake Dallas HS/North Central Texas College), but the Broncs came back in their half. Sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) homered over the left field wall in the bottom of the first inning, and sophomore Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS) followed with another solo homer one out later. The Broncs tied it in the second. Sophomore center fielder Jonathan Mason (San Antonio, TX/Jay HS) hit another solo homer to left and tied the score. Reynosa took the lead for good in the top of the fourth. With two out, left fielder Ozzie Timons reached second on a throwing error by junior third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) and came home on a single by second baseman Rafael Castaneda. The Broncos extended their lead in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. Right fielder Joel Canales singled to score Castaneda, but right fielder Otis Powers (Fr. Brownsville, TX/Rivera HS) threw out third baseman Oscar Romero at the plate to end the inning. Texas-Pan American replied in the bottom of the inning. Sisk singled, moved to second on a hit batsman, and scored on a single to left by sophomore left fielder Dustin Lee (College Station, TX/A&M Consolidated HS). Reynosa scored in the eighth on an RBI single by shortstop Ventura Visneros, and in the ninth when Visneros drew a walk with the bases loaded. The Broncs threatened in the seventh, when Eichel singled and junior first baseman Ben DiOrio (Canon City, CO/Canon City HS/Seward County CC) doubled to right. But Martin Enriquez relieved and fanned Sisk and Mason to end the inning. Garza led off the ninth with a single, and Powers followed with a walk. But Orlando Verdugo, Reynosa's sixth pitcher, got Eichel to bounce into a fielder's choice and DiOrio to hit into a double play to end the game. "We held our own against a good ballclub," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "They have good hitters, they play good defense, and they don't make mistakes. Their shortstop made some nice plays, and when we got men on base, their pitchers raised their level. We hit the ball well, we got 13 hits and hit three home runs, and their pitchers know how to pitch. We just have to use this game to build some momentum for our series this weekend." Freshman Robert Martinez (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS), the second Bronc pitcher, took the loss. Reynosa starter Mercedes Esquer earned the win, and Verdugo picked up a save. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they visit Texas A&M for a three-game series this weekend. BA-35-03030403 |