For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 3, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director

BRONCS COME BACK TO BEAT SLU, 3-2 IN 11 INNINGS

HAMMOND, LA-With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team was a pitch away from dropping the second game of their three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana.

However, senior left fielder Bruce Kennedy ((Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) singled in the tying runs, then hit a two-run solo homer over the left center field fence in the top of the 11th inning, as the Broncs came from behind to defeat the Lions, 3-2.

Sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Sharyland HS) singled with one out in the ninth, and advanced to third on a double by sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS). One out later, Kennedy's single to left tied the game. Kennedy's homer came with two out and nobody on in the top of the 11th. It was his sixth game-winning hit of the season.

SLU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo home run by center fielder Graham Martin. The Lions scored again in the eighth on a single by right fielder Brady Sledge. Sledge's hit scored shortstop Justin Waguespack, but Kennedy threw out second baseman Justin Perrone, who tried to score on the same play, to keep the score at 2-0 going to the ninth.

Sophomore righthander Juan Saenz (Mission, TX/Mission HS) earned the victory in relief by pitching two innings and allowing no runs and two hits, improving to 2-0. Freshman righthander Aaron Guerra (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg HS) started for Texas-Pan American, and allowed two runs and five hits in nine innings before departing.

Jeremy Mizell, the second of three SLU pitchers, allowed all three Bronc runs and took the loss, falling to 1-9. Starter Brad Miller pitched six scoreless innings before Mizell entered in the seventh.

"We were down to our last pitch in the ninth, it was deep in the count, and Bruce hit the ball over the shortstop's head to tie it," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "They got Bruce out the first three times he came up, and his last two times up, he got a couple of clutch hits. Aaron threw very well, that's the best game he's pitched in a while. Juan Saenz pitched well, Marco and (junior third baseman) Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) made some good defensive plays, and Bruce threw a guy out at the plate in the eighth to keep it at two runs. We played well, and came through when we needed to."

The Broncs improved to 21-28 with the victory, while SLU fell to 15-30 with the defeat. The teams will conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon.

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