May 25, 2008

The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs entered the last game of the National Independent Tournament and their last game of the season in hopes of becoming the tri-champions of the tournament and did so with a dramatic 5-2 win over Le Moyne on Sunday (May 25) at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

The Broncs finished the 2008 campaign with a 21-35 overall record while the Dolphins dropped to 33-21 on the season.

Two and half scoreless innings started off game 12 at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium but the Broncs found their stroke in the bottom third collecting two runs on three hits to take a 2-0 advantage.

Senior Roly Gonzalez, the nation's leader in stolen bases led the Broncs with a single to center field, advanced to second on a single by Billy Donaho, moved to third on a balk by Dolphins pitcher Daniel Tunison and both runners came around to score following a Jordan Rutenbar single to center field.

Le Moyne came right back in the top half of the fourth frame, collecting a run on two hits, to cut the deficit 2-1. With one out, Chris Haynes singled to center field, advanced to second with a walk issued to Robert Perez and crossed home plate with a single to left field by Sean Paino.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Broncs connected on a run in the sixth when a hit-in-run attempt proved successful for the Broncs. With one out in the frame, senior Jeremy Johnson reached on an infield single, moved to third on a double down the left field line by Gonzalez and came around to score on a sacrifice fly to left field by Hough, to make the score 3-1.

The Dolphins came within one run in the top of the eighth connecting on a run on two hits, making the score 3-2. A double by Chris Edmondson down the left field line put Le Moyne in scoring position. Cory O'Neill came up big for the Dolphins with a single up the middle, scoring Edmondson from second.

UTPA created some space between themselves and the Dolphins, collecting two big runs on two hits in the bottom half of the frame. Nick Spears led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a single to left field by Johnson and moved to third on a fielder's choice by Gonzalez. Hough came up big for the Broncs with two outs connecting on a two-RBI single to left field, scoring Gonzalez and Spears, to make the score 5-2.

Things got close in the top of the ninth when Le Moyne managed to put two runners on base with two outs. The call was made to the bullpen where Adrian Garza recorded the third out for the Broncs and collecting his second save of the season.

In grand fashion, Cody Cisper closed out his senior campaign with his sixth win of the season, pitching 8.2 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs - all earned while striking out five batters.

Offensively the Broncs were led by Gonzalez who finished his last game with the Broncs going 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Hough went 1-for-4 with three RBI.

The Broncs closed out the National Independent Tournament in a three-way tie with Northern Colorado and Le Moyne, all finishing with a 3-1 record.

UTPA Sports Information