NACOGDOCHES – UTRGV first baseman Brandon Pimentel hit three of the Vaqueros’ program record-tying six home runs to break the career program record during a 13-3, eight-inning victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on Thursday at Jaycees Field.
The Vaqueros (27-24, 13-14 WAC) can clinch their fourth-straight Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament berth by winning the middle game of the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Fans can watch for free via WAC International.
Pimentel now has 28 home runs, breaking the previous record of 27 held by Hall of Famer Mitchell Moran (1981-83). Pimentel has 16 home runs this season, the third-highest single-season total in program history behind only Moran (20, 1983) and Jesse Gutierrez (21, 2000).
Graduate student Montclair Cain hit two home runs to increase his career total to 17, tied for the 10th-highest total in program history with Andy Ness (1999-00). Cain now has eight home runs this season.
This is the fifth time UTRGV has ever had six home runs in a game and the third time on the road, along with May 3, 2022 at UTSA, May 2, 2021 at New Mexico State, March 2000 at home vs. Western Illinois and March 1991 at home vs. William Penn.
Senior Zerek Saenz and Pimentel each homered against Skyler Jaco(2-4) to give the Vaqueros a 2-0 lead in the first.
Saenz now has four home runs this season.
Pimentel belted a 2-run home run in the third to make the score 4-0 and mark his second multi-home run game of the season and the fourth of his career.
Then, with the score 5-3 in the fifth, Pimentel launched another 2-run home run to break the record as part of his first-career 3-home run game. One batter later, Cain launched a solo shot to put the Vaqueros up 8-3.
Cain added a 2-run shot in the eighth to make the score 13-3. This was Cain’s second-career multi-home run game. The other was also against the Lumberjacks, on April 9, 2022.
Pimentel finished 3-for-4 with a career-high three home runs, a walk, a season-high five RBI and a career-high tying four runs scored. Cain went a season-best 4-for-5 with two home runs, a season-high tying three RBI and a career-high tying three runs scored. Saenz finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, a steal, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Steven Lancia went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Lancia scored his run in the fourth when, with runners at first and second and one out, postbaccalaureate student Angel De La Cruz hit a grounder to short. The throw to second led to an out, but the relay throw sailed wide, allowing Lancia to score to make the score 5-3.
Lancia drove-in his run in the seventh with a bases loaded walk in the seventh. Junior PSJA North alum Damian Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Saenz drew a bases loaded walk to make the score 11-3.
Senior Alex Verdugo (3-2) earned the win by pitching 5.0 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out four while allowing one hit and one walk.
Clayton Loranger got the Lumberjacks (22-26, 12-16 WAC) on the board with a 2-run home run in the third. The next batter, Cal Martin, hit a solo shot to make the score 4-3.