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For Immediate
Release: Monday, March 17, 2003 BRONCS DEFEAT IONA, 6-1 EDINBURG, TX-Entering the 2003 season, The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team counted on senior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville) to anchor their young pitching staff. Parker rewarded his team's faith Monday night, as he pitched his finest game of the season, limiting Iona to a single run and five hits in a 6-1 complete game victory at the Edinburg baseball Stadium. Parker walked one batter and struck out six, throwing 118 pitches and giving the Bronc bullpen a well-deserved night off. While he took care of the Gaels, Texas-Pan American did their part at the plate, taking advantage of their chances to score six runs on six hits. The Broncs scored in each of their first four at-bats. Senior designated hitter Bruce Kennedy led off the first inning with a triple, and scored on a wild pitch by Iona starter and loser Brian Parish. Sophomore catcher Jarod Hickle (LaGrange, TX/LaGrange HS) led off the second inning with a walk, stole second, and moved to third on a single by freshman left fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS). Alamia stole second, and when catcher Jason Motte's throw got away, Alamia went to third and Hickle scored. Alamia crossed the plate moments later on an infield grounder by senior right fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC). UTPA scored a single run in the fourth, when sophomore center fielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) walked with the bases loaded, and added another run in the fifth when Alamia drew a bases-loaded walk. Iona spoiled Parker's shutout bid in the seventh, when first baseman Ryan Bucci beat out a bad-hop single to the right side of the infield, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on second baseman Mark Zettl's single. Sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) doubled to lead off the eighth, was sacrificed to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS). Alamia's hit allowed him to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. He is four games away from tying the all-time Broncs' record of 22 games, set by Joel Hernandez during the 1975 season. "I told Travis that if he got through the first inning, he would
pitch a great game, and he did," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik.
"He got ahead in the count, and made people hit his pitch. He was
well-prepared, and focused, and if he can continue to pitch like that,
it will help us a lot. We made the plays defensively, and we executed
our offense. We stole bases, got our bunts down, and executed the hit
and run." Texas-Pan American evened their record at 13-13 with the victory, while Iona fell to 1-6 with the defeat. The Broncs and Gaels will wrap up their three-game series Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
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