April 24, 2008

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Game Information
× - The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team will hit the road for a three-game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday (Apr. 25) with the first game slated for 7 p.m. in Pine Bluff, AR.

× - The Broncs will play game two on Saturday at 4 p.m. followed by the final game on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start time.

× - The Broncs dropped their overall record to 14-27 after falling in a double-header to Southland Conference foe-Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday (Apr. 22).

× - The meeting with UAPB will be the first all-time meeting in program history. The Golden Lions are coming off a 5-0 shutout loss to University of Central Arkansas on Wednesday (Apr. 23) in Conway, AR.

× - Jordan Rutenbar leads the Broncs offensively with a .331 batting average with 31 runs batted in, 48 hits and 27 RBI's.

× - On the base path, Roly Gonzalez leads the nation with 32 stolen bases in 35 attempts this season.

× - The Broncs will return to the Edinburg Baseball Stadium on May 21-25 for the National Independent Tournament where they will host six teams. Broncs Drop Double-Header to TAMUCC

× - The Broncs suffered a 10-5 loss in game one of the double-header and fell 8-2 in the second match-up.

× - TAMUCC opened the game with a three-run first inning on three hits and one miscue by the Broncs. Paul Saville led off with a single to right field, stole second, advanced to third on a C. Wheaton single to left field and scored following an error by the catcher. Driving in two runs for the Islanders was Ernie Olivarez who singled to center field, making the score 3-0.

× - The Islanders kept the Broncs scoreless throughout four innings till the Broncs collected five runs in the fifth on four hits.

× - With two outs in the inning, Ryan Vest got on board following a hit-by-pinch, advanced to second on a balk and moved to third on a wild pitch. Jordan Rutenbar joined Vest on the base path with a walk and both teammates advanced a base after a balk. Billy Donaho kept the inning going, connecting on a single to left field scoring Rutenbar from second base.

× - After an Islander pitching change, the Broncs rally continued as Jose Mendoza, Ruben Shives Jr. and Andrew Perez all recorded doubles and a RBI apiece, to even the score at 5-5.

× - The Broncs would be held scoreless the rest of the way as the Islanders added four runs in the seventh and a single run in the eighth to shut out the Broncs in game one.

× - Pitching 6.1 innings for the Broncs and recording the loss was senior Shane Janecka. Janecka allowed 13 hits, nine runs - six earned while striking out four.

× - Mendoza was the only Bronc to record a multi-hit performance going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

× - The Broncs struggled to find their stroke in game two against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi falling 8-2.

× - Making his third appearance of the year, Jeremy Johnson took the mound for the Broncs. Johnson collected the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, and four runs - all earned.

× - The Broncs only runs came in the seventh and eighth innings on three hits combined.

× - Nick Bourn went 1-for-3 with one RBI while Shives Jr. finished a perfect 1-for-1 with run scored.

Former Broncs Head to the Minors
× - After finishing their 2007-08 senior campaign, Osiel Flores, Ray Silva, Patrick Brooks and Chad Linder to the next step in furthering their dreams of playing in the major leagues as all they were signed to minor league contracts.

× - Flores was the first Bronc to sign a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians and headed to the New York-Penn League which is a short-season Class "A" league.

× - Former third baseman Patrick Brooks signed a free agent deal with the Chicago Cubs and traveled to the Chicago Cub's rookie league in Mesa, AZ.

× - UTPA pitcher Ray Silva signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and made his debut with the Johnson City Cardinals this past summer.

× - Former UTPA pitcher Chad Linder signed with the River City Rascals which is a Division I Independent Baseball team in the Frontier League.

Senior Leadership Key to Successful Season
× - The Broncs enter the 2008 campaign with seven seniors that will lead a entirely new team from the previous season.

× - Cody Cisper, Roly Gonzalez, Jeremy Johnson, Chris Lozano, Philip Rodriguez, Matt Shepherd, and Ruben Shives, Jr. round out the group of seven that will look to finish their final season with a winning record.

× - The seven seniors will use their leadership and experience to lead a team that will consist of four returning letterman, twelve junior college transfers and six freshman.

× - The Broncs have yet to finish above .500 since the 2000 season under the direction of Reggie Tredaway where UTPA collected a 31-19-1 record.

Broncs Host First Annual National Independent Tournament
× - Following the Broncs final three game series versus Texas Christian University, UTPA will close out the season with the National Independent Tournament in Edinburg, TX during the week of May 21-25.

× - Teams that will be featured in the NIT will be Northern Colorado, New York Tech, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Chicago State, and Le Moyne.

× - The tournament seeds will be announced on the Monday prior to the opening of the tournament. The seeds will be determined by record and NCAA RPI.

× - NCAA Regional selections take place on May 26 and the winner has an opportunity for a possible NCAA tournament bid.

Trio of Broncs Earn All-Independent Honors
× - Roly Gonzalez and formers Broncs Ray Silva and Josh Wymer represented the Broncs on the 2007 NCAA Division I All-Independent Baseball Team.

× - Gonzalez finished with a team-high .342 batting average where he collected 54 hits in 158 at-bats to go along with a team-high 20 stolen bases last season.

× - Silva finished his senior campaign with the Broncs with a 1-2 record to go along with a team-high four saves. He recorded a 1-2 record with a 4.08 earned run average in 28.2 innings of action.

× - Wymer was the top vote-getter for the Broncs as the UTPA freshman earned All-Independent Second Team laurels. He finished with a 5-7 record to go with a 3.66 earned run average in 16 starts where he posted four complete games for the Broncs.

UTPA Sports Information