Feb. 11, 2005
The obvious way to judge someone's opinion is by a scale, especially on a scale of 1-10.
Unfortunately for The University of Texas-Pan American baseball squad, that scale would not show favorable results as `10' would represent the number of runners in scoring position and the `1' was the number of hits that Broncs had during that span.
The Broncs left 10 runners on base - nine in scoring position - in their 4-2 setback against Lamar University at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium on Friday (Feb. 11).
"I thought we played well," said head coach Willie Gawlik. "Lamar is a great hitting team, and they received outstanding pitching tonight. We had our opportunities with runners in scoring position, but we just couldn't convert."
UTPA jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior Jacob Jones (Kress, TX/Texas Tech University) walked then scored on a J.R. Saenz (Corpus Christi, TX/Brown Mackie College) double to centerfield. It was Saenz's first RBI of the season.
Following a Lamar run in the top of the third inning to tie the score at 1-1, the Broncs struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning when Alfred Padron (Pasadena, TX/Alvin C.C.) singled then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by leadoff hitter Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North H.S.). He would eventually score on a single by Jones to give the Broncs a 2-1 advantage. Jones has reached base in four of the Broncs' five games this season.
UTPA starter Ryne Foster (Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park H.S.) hurled a masterpiece game through six innings, allowing only one run in that span, but fell into trouble in the top of the seventh inning. After allowing back-to-back singles to Will Henderson and Andrew Leal, Foster was replaced by Aaron Guerra (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg H.S.). Guerra allowed three hits in that inning, and the end result was a 4-2 lead for the Cardinals.
"I really thought that Ryne threw well for six innings. We probably left him in for one inning too many, but he looked good in the fifth and sixth innings that we decided to stick with him. Aaron really pitched great for the rest of the game, but he had problems in that inning," added Gawlik.
The Broncs had an opportunity to tie the game in the ninth inning after Alamia and Aaron Flowers (Rowlett, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) both singled to give UTPA runners on first and second with two outs. The Cardinals went to their closer Steve MacFarland, who ended the game by striking out Jones.
Foster suffered his first loss of the season after hurling six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while sitting down four Cardinal hitters. Guerra tossed the final three innings and gave up one run on three hits while striking out four.
Allen Harrington picked up the win for the Cardinals after he replaced starter Derrick Gordon in the sixth inning. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three hits while shutting out the Broncs on the scoreboard.
Flowers led the Broncs on the offensive attack with a pair of hits.
The Broncs will be back in action on Saturday (Feb. 12) for the second of a three-game set against Lamar. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.
UTPA Sports Information
