Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Baseball Team defeated the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions 8-6 with a crowd of 6,473 attendees today at the Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus, with the game streaming on ESPNU.
The first inning started with the Lions hitting the ball deep into center, allowing the Lions to get their first run by Alex Perry, a redshirt senior infielder, from first base, then later by Ben Robichaux, a senior infielder, getting one RBI.
Later in the first inning, Rocco Garza Gongora, a UTRGV redshirt junior outfielder, was caught stealing second base, and after a coach’s challenge, it was deemed he was caught.
Brooks Wright, a sophomore outfielder, hit a home run during the second inning, and the score was 3-0. However, Easton Moomau, a junior infielder, hit their own home run. Getting the Vaqueros first run.
In the third inning, Armani Raygoza, a redshirt junior infielder, hit a deep home run for UTRGV into left field, making the 12th for him this season and tying the game 3-3.
During the fifth inning, Wright hit another home run for the Lions, his second home run of the season. Bringing the score to 4-3.
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
However, the Vaqueros quickly responded with a run by Rudy Gonzalez, a graduate student catcher, on Gongora’s triple down the right-field line.
The Vaqueros took the lead 5-4 thanks to Raygoza reaching on a fielder’s choice, letting Gongora make a complete run.
In the sixth inning, Sergio Lopez, a graduate student pitcher, struck out Lions Justin Williams, a graduate student outfielder. Lopez was up to seven strikeouts. The Lions scored two runs and regained the lead, 6-5.
In the seventh inning, Rene Galván, a UTRGV senior outfielder, hit the ball to left center, letting Diego Villescas, a graduate student infielder, score from second base. Later in the inning, Hank Warren, a redshirt senior outfielder, hit a home run and let him and Galván, who was on first base, run and score two points for UTRGV. The Vaqueros took back the lead, 6-8.
The Lions, for the last 2 innings, tried to come back but failed.
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said it has been a couple of rough months, but they are back playing like themselves.
“Tomorrow we need it again because boy, it’s been a rough couple months,” Matlock said. “But man, that’s three in a row, we’re starting to play a little better, look like the Vaqueros, but we got a tough day tomorrow with two against these monsters, and it’s going to be tough, but what a good game for the Vaqueros today.”
Colton Vercoe, a UTRGV graduate student pitcher, said the fans’ support in today’s game was great.
“How great is God that we get to be here in this great facility with these great fans,” Vercoe said. “It was just so much fun, just coming in and being able to pick up my guys. That’s what the focus has been a lot recently, just picking each other up. So, having the opportunity to do that meant a lot.”
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
Hank Warren, a UTRGV redshirt senior outfielder, said the team will not get ahead of itself and try to execute the coaches’ game plan.
“We’ve won three in a row, but I think coming in here and executing our game plan that our coaches are going to give us,” Warren said. “… What pitchers, especially on the defensive position side, see what the pitchers are, what they want us to attack, and then, you know, coming in here and playing as one.”
He added the team has been playing “a lot better” the past three games because they are playing as a team.
“I think it just goes to show the past three games why we’ve had success,” Warren said. “So yeah, I think that just carries into tomorrow. And I think another thing is we’re going to do a … better job with that on if something doesn’t go right, someone’s there to pick us up.”
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m in the Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.
Mykel Del Angel/THE RIDER
