For Immediate Release: Sunday, April 06, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

ISLANDERS DEFEAT BRONCS, SWEEP SERIES

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX—Designated hitter Joshua Hulin’s run-scoring single with the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the 12th inning gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi a 3-2 victory over The University of Texas-Pan American’s baseball team Sunday afternoon, and a sweep of their three-game series at Islander Field.

Left fielder Mike Schlekewy led off the bottom of the 12th with a triple against reliever Johnny Gibson (Sachse, TX/Naaman Forest HS/Collin County CC). Gibson then issued intention walks to first baseman Humberto Aguilar and catcher Blair Bourque to load the bases before Hulin delivered his game-winning hit.

Texas-Pan American had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth. With one out, freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer walked and advanced to second on an infield grounder. Freshman right fielder Louie Alamia singled Gilmer home. Sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) followed with a single, and Alamia scored when Islander center fielder Mike Bruner misplayed the ball.

Alamia has now hit in five consecutive games, and 27 of his last 28 games. He has also scored runs in eight consecutive games.

TAMU-CC got a run in the sixth. Third baseman Jaime Landin singled and scored on a double by shortstop Hector Garanzuay. The Islanders tied it in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by Hulin and Garner.

Senior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville) pitched the first 10 innings for the Broncs, allowing two runs and nine hits. Jimmy Hamon limited UTPA to two runs and six hits in nine innings, and reliever Jorge Huerta followed him with three scoreless innings.

“Travis had a great pitching performance, and then Gibby came in and gave up a triple to lead off the 12th,” said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. “We had to walk two guys and set up a force, and the chances of getting out of that situation are not very good. We had our chances to go ahead, and we had chances to win the game before we went into extra innings. There were a few times when we just needed a hit or a sacrifice fly, but we weren’t able to execute. Travis only threw 111 pitches. He pitched well enough to win.”

Huerta earned the victory in relief and improved to 3-1, while Gibson took the defeat and fell to 5-4.

TAMU-CC improved to 21-12 with the victory, while the Broncs dropped to 17-19 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they visit Texas Tuesday evening.

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