May 2, 2008

Game Notes - Northern Colorado in PDF Format
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Game Information
× - The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team will match-up against Northern Colorado for a three-game series beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. in Greeley, CO.

× - The regular scheduled game for Friday at 2 p.m. was rescheduled for a double-header on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. because of high winds and inclement weather in the area.

× - The Broncs are coming off two heartbreaking losses to Southland Conference foe-Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX.

× - With the two setbacks, the Broncs dropped their overall record to 17-29 overall.

× - The series with the Bears will be the second all-time meeting with the Broncs holding onto a 1-0 advantage. The Broncs posted a 2-1 victory over the Bears at the UTPA Baseball Classic at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium on February 3.

× - At the plate, the Broncs are led by Jordan Rutenbar with a .323 batting average. In 45 games played, Rutenbar has recorded 52 hits, 29 RBI's, 36 runs scored, eight doubles and five homeruns.

× - Following the double-header with TAMUCC, the Broncs will play 10 consecutive games on the road before retuning back to the confines of the Edinburg Baseball Stadium where they will host seven teams in the National Independent Tournament beginning (May 21-25).

Broncs Drop Double-Header to Stephen F. Austin
× - A walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th by Mat Whatley sealed the win for the Lumberjacks Monday night.

× - The Broncs grabbed a run in the second frame on two hits when Jose Mendoza singled to center field and advanced to third on a double to left field by Nick Spears. Mendoza tied the game at 1-1 following a wild pitch by SFA's pitcher Kyle Watson.

× - The Lumberjacks recorded eight runs in the next five innings of the game but were held scoreless in the bottom of the ninth.

× - With the Broncs down 10-8 heading into the top of the ninth, they were able to produce two runs on one hit. Jordan Rutenbar got on base with a walk, was substituted out with pinch runner J.C. Cortez who advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Mendoza was hit by a pitch. Spears was issued a walk, loading the bases for newcomer Perez who doubled down the left field line scoring Cortez and Mendoza, tying the game at 10-10 and sending the game into extra innings.

× - Both teams were held scoreless in the 10th but the Lumberjacks pulled away with the victory following a solo homerun in the 11th, taking game one 11-10.

× - Broncs hurler Shane Janecka recorded the loss, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs - five earned while only walking two batters.

× - The Broncs dropped game two of the series 10-9 falling to 17-29 on the season.

× - Senior Roly Gonzalez led the Broncs offensively finishing 3-for-3 with two RBI's and one run scored while Billy Donaho went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

× - Donaho tied the game up for the third time after he recorded his sixth homerun of the season, to make the score 4-4.

× - Both teams held each other scoreless in the sixth frame but the Broncs' bats came up big in the seventh, collecting four runs on three hits. Gonzalez, Bonham Hough and Vest combined for three of UTPA's hits and two Broncs reached on walks, making the score 8-4.

× - A three-run homerun to left field in the seventh by Kello lifted the Lumberjacks and cut the deficit 8-7.

× - The Broncs would collect a final run in the eighth frame following a single by Donaho, scoring Perez who reached on a walk. The Lumberjacks continued to add runs in the final two innings of game, recording the two-game sweep over the Broncs.

× - Cody Cisper took the loss for the Broncs, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing 11 hits, seven runs - all earned while striking out four SFA batters.

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