For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 4, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director

BRONCS FALL AT SLU, 11-6

HAMMOND, LA-The first half of Sunday's game between The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team and Southeastern Louisiana belonged to the Broncs.

Texas-Pan American built a 6-0 lead through four and a half innings. Then the roof fell in as the Lions scored nine runs in their next two at-bats, and SLU went on to an 11-6 victory in the final game of the three-game series at Alumni Field.

Freshman right fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) led off the first inning with a double, and scored on an infield out by sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) to stake the Broncs to an early 1-0 lead.

Texas-Pan American added five more runs in the third inning. Freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer (Forney, TX/Forney HS) and senior center fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/ Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) each singled, and Alamia reached base when second baseman Russell Taylor misplayed his bunt. Sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX / Sharyland HS) singled home two runs, junior third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) doubled home two more, and senior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) added an RBI single to make it 6-0.

The Lions scored twice in the fifth. Left fielder Robert Larsen singled home one run, and another crossed on an infield out by right fielder Carl Trosclair.

First baseman Blaine Wyninger and designated hitter Lenny Mayard opened the SLU sixth with singles, and third baseman Joey Duhe reached on Garza's error, which allowed Wyninger to score. Consecutive bunt singles by catcher Justin Casas and center fielder Graham Martin made it 6-4, and shortstop Jason Waguespack's two-run single tied the game. Larsen singled home two more runs, and second baseman Russell Taylor added an RBI double.

"We went up, 6-0, but we made a few mistakes, and they capitalized on them," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "We misplayed a double play ball, then we didn't cover properly on two bunts, and then we couldn't get anybody out, and that was the ballgame. We didn't play good defense in that inning, and it cost us. After we took the lead, we got complacent. It was a disappointing loss."

Mark Weinmunson, who relieved starter Brad Pitarro after three innings and pitched six innings of scoreless relief, earned the victory for SLU and improved to 4-5. UTPA senior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville), who started, took the loss and fell to 3-5.

The Broncs fell to 21-29 with the defeat, while SLU improved to 16-30 with the victory. UTPA will take a break for final exams, and return to action when they visit New Mexico State May 16th and 17th.

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