For Immediate Release: Sunday, March 09, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

ALAMIA RECORDS HIT IN 12TH CONSECUTIVE GAME, BRONCS FALL TO AGGIES

COLLEGE STATION, TX- Freshman left fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) recorded a hit in his 12th consecutive game, but The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to 22nd ranked Texas A&M at Olsen Field Sunday afternoon. With the loss, Texas-Pan American fell to 9-11, while the Aggies improved to 15-4.

Alamia's hit capped a rally that allowed the Broncs to trim a 7-0 fifth inning deficit to 7-4. Freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer (Forney, TX/Forney HS) drew a lead-off walk. Senior right fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC), senior designated hitter Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC), and sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) followed with consecutive doubles to cut the deficit to 7-3. Two outs later, Alamia's infield single allowed Garza to score from third base to pull UTPA to within 7-4.

The Aggies struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Centerfielder Justin Ruggiano singled to lead off the inning, first baseman Coby Mavroulis walked, and left fielder Scott Beerer singled to load the bases with no outs. Catcher Justin Pouk gave TAMU the lead with a sacrifice fly to left field, which allowed Ruggiano to score. Third baseman Cliff Pennington singled to right field, plating Mavroulis, and second baseman Erik Schindewolf completed the rally with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, which allowed Beerer to score.

Texas A&M sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning, and capitalized on a pair of hits and three Texas-Pan American errors to score four unearned runs, seizing a 7-0 lead.
Junior starting pitcher Ben DiOrio (Canon City, CO/Canon City HS (Seward County CC) fell to 2-2 on the season, allowing seven runs on six hits, with just three of the runs being earned. DiOrio surrendered more than one earned run for just the second time this season in six appearances. Freshman pitcher Aaron Guerra (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS) allowed three hits in five and one-third scoreless innings, striking out three. Junior third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) went two-for-three with a walk, and has recorded at least a hit and a walk in three of the last four games.

For the Aggies, reliever Kyle Parcus improved to 1-2 on the season, picking up the win for the Aggies in four innings of work, allowing two hits and struck out six. Beerer came in from left field to earn his fifth save of the season, retiring the final three batters of the game. He also went two-for-three with two runs scored for TAMU.

UT Pan American will return to action Tuesday evening, when they host Sam Houston State at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

BA-38-08030903