For Immediate Release: Friday, May 16, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director

BRONCS DROP A PAIR AT NMSU, 13-7 AND 22-2

LAS CRUCES, NM-Billy Becher's grand-slam homer keyed a five-run sixth inning as New Mexico State came from behind to defeat The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team in the first game of a day-night doubleheader, 13-7, at Presley Askew Field Friday. The Aggies completed the sweep by winning the nightcap, 22-2.

Becher, who leads the nation with 30 home runs, hit his 29th on a pitch from Texas-Pan American junior starter Tommy Sorden (Austin, TX/Bowie HS/Navarro College) in the bottom of the sixth inning of the opener, turning a 6-4 UTPA lead into an 8-6 deficit.

The Broncs took a 4-0 lead in their first three at-bats in the first game. Sophomore first baseman Tony Ortiz (Fort Worth, TX/Nolan HS) singled and scored on a double by sophomore designated hitter Juan Saenz (Mission, TX/Mission HS) in the top of the first inning. A walk to junior third baseman Ben DiOrio (Canon City, CO/Canon City HS/Seward County CC), a single by senior center fielder Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) and an RBI double by freshman right fielder Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North HS) in the top of the second made it 2-0.

Ortiz led off the third inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Saenz. Senior left fielder Bruce Kennedy (Mansfield, TX/Mansfield HS/Northeast Texas CC) hit a sacrifice fly to one run, and McCoy was hit by a pitch with the bases full to make it 4-0.

Becher hit his first home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-1. The Broncs came back and scored a run in the fifth when sophomore catcher Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/ Grapevine HS) doubled, moved to third on a hit by freshman second baseman T.J. Gilmer (Forney, TX/Forney HS), and scored on third baseman Gavin Monjaras' error. Aggie designated hitter Beau Blacken doubled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but UTPA added another run in the sixth when Alamia singled, moved to third on a pair of infield outs, and scored on another error by Monjaras.

Jason Williams worked the first six innings for NMSU and earned the victory, improving to 7-4. Sorden, the first of two Texas-Pan American pitchers, took the loss and fell to 2-3.

The Broncs scored twice in the top of the first inning of the second game before NMSU roared back. Alamia led off with a home run, sophomore shortstop Marco Garza (Mission, TX/ Sharyland HS) followed with a triple, and Ortiz drove him home with a

After Bronc senior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville) held New Mexico State scoreless in the first, the Aggies scored at least four times in each of their final five at-bats in the seven-inning second game. Left fielder Brandon Saunders had a triple and five runs batted in, outfielder Matt Peters entered as a pinch-hitter and drove in three runs, and Becher and Blacken each homered for NMSU.

Dustin Cameron went all the way for the Aggies in the nightcap, allowing six hits and improving his record to 8-3. Parker took the loss and dropped to 3-6.

"I thought we had a chance to win the first game, but we got the lead, and we couldn't hold it," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "We got back within one run, and we hit into a double play and they got some more runs and put it away. New Mexico State us a good team, and they swing the bats well, and their first baseman is a good hitter. If you throw them the ball belt high, they'll hit it out of the park."

The Broncs fell to 21-31 with the losses, while New Mexico State improved to 40-14 with the sweep. The teams will complete the series with another day-night doubleheader Saturday, with games scheduled for 2 and 8 p.m. Central Time.

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