For Immediate Release: Friday, March 28, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS’ COMEBACK DOWNS DALLAS BAPTIST, 9-8

EDINBURG, TX—Like the mythical phoenix that rose from the ashes, The University of Texas-Pan American’s baseball team came back from the point of no return Friday night.

The Broncs overcame an 8-0 deficit by scoring the final nine runs of the game in their last three at-bats to defeat Dallas Baptist, 9-8, at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

Texas-Pan American trailed, 8-0, when they began their comeback in the sixth after giving up seven runs to the Patriots in the top half of the inning. With one out, junior third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) and senior designated hitter Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) hit back-to-back doubles. Sophomore catcher Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS) reached on an error by third baseman Cody Montgomery, and sophomore center fielder John Lopez (Mission, TX/Mission HS) followed with a single to score Kennedy. One out later, freshman left fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/ Edinburg North HS) singled home a pair of runs, senior right fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) was hit by a pitch and stole second, and sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) singled home two more runs to make it 8-6. A hit by sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) brought home another run, but reliever Jeremy Kennedy got Eichel to fly to deep right to end the threat.

The Broncs took the lead in the eighth. Garza doubled to right, and Ortiz brought him home with a triple to right. Sisk followed with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Patriots threatened in the ninth. With one out, Montgomery walked, and center fielder Josh Causey flied to deep left field. Lindsey reached on an error by Sisk, but junior reliever Johnny Gibson induced right fielder Daniel Tsukahara to ground out to second base to end the game.

“It was a great comeback,” said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. “We got some big hits in the bottom of the sixth, then Marco and Tony got big hits in the eighth, and Matt Sisk hit a sacrifice fly. Johnny Gibson did a great job, and I’m glad that the wind was blowing in at the end. They hit a couple of long shots that might have been out in their park.”

Alamia’s hit was his second of the game. It extended his consecutive game hitting streak to 22, tying the all-time UTPA record that was set in 1975 by Joe Hernandez.

Dallas Baptist had broken a scoreless tie in the fifth on singles by starting right fielder Drew holder and designated hitter Justin Locey, a walk to catcher John Schindler, and a single by shortstop Blair Robinson. But UTPA starter Ricky Anderson (So. Corinth, TX/Lake Dallas HS/North Central Texas College) struck out Wilson to end the threat.

The Patriots extended their lead in the sixth. After a couple of walks, first baseman Greg Lindsey slammed a two-run triple to right field. Tsukahara followed with an RBI single. One out later, Schindler singled home a run. Robinson then bunted for a hit, Wilson walked, then Montgomery singled to center to make it 8-0 before the Broncs began their comeback.

Gibson, who worked three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, earned the victory and improved to 4-2. Stu Sutherland, the third of three DBU pitchers, took the loss and fell to 2-1.

The Broncs evened their record at 15-15 with the victory, while the Patriots fell to 20-15 with the defeat.

Texas-Pan American and Dallas Baptist will conclude their two-game series Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

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