The UTRGV baseball team lost to the Texas A&M Aggies, a team receiving votes in the latest USA Today Coaches and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls, 11-1 in seven innings on Tuesday at Blue Bell Park in College Station.

The Vaqueros (26-21) scored their run in the seventh. With two outs, graduate student Montclair Cain came back from an 0-2 count to walk. Sophomore Steven Lancia singled to move Cain to second. Junior Adrian Torres followed with a single to center to bring home Cain, making the score 6-1.

Lancia finished 2-for-3, including a single in the second. Senior Zerek Saenz also singled, doing so in the first.

The Aggies (29-20) opened the first by putting runners on the corners against senior J.C. Ariza (1-4). Trevor Wernergrounded out to bring home a run and then Jace LaViolette hit an RBI-single to make the score 2-0.

The Aggies used a pair of third innings sacrifice flies, one be LaViolette and one by Ryan Targac, to go up 4-0.

Hunter Haas homered in the fourth to make the score 5-0.

In the fifth, the Aggies put runners on the corners with nobody out, setting up an RBI-groundout by Kasen Wells.

The Aggies loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh. Jack Mosshit into a fielder’s choice to score a run. A wild pitch brought home another run and LaViolette hit an RBI-single to make the score 9-1. After a double steal put runners at second and third, Jordan Thompson ended the game with a 2-run single.

Justin Lamkin (2-3) earned the win by striking out seven in 5.1 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball.

UTRGV plays its final three homes games this weekend, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Grand Canyon at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

Friday’s game, which is sponsored by G3 Scrap Metal, features a pregame tailgate at 4 p.m. to officially launch Los Vaqueros, a blood orange kölsch style ale created by 5×5 Brewing Co. Fans can enjoy food, drinks and music during this celebration. Fans attending the tailgate will receive free Uber codes, courtesy of L&F Distributors.

After the game, fans will be treated to fireworks, courtesy of G3 Scrap Metal.

Friday is also the Cane’s Challenge, which rewards fans with a buy one, get one free coupon for a box combo at Raising Cane’s if the Vaqueros win.

Tickets are on sale now at UTRGVTickets.com. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID. All fans need to follow the clear bag policy, details of which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.

Senior Roberto Gonzalez hit a pair of three-run home runs to power the UTRGV baseball team to a 9-6 victory over the Sacramento State Hornets on Sunday at John Smith Field in Sacramento, California.

Gonzalez hit his home runs in the third to put the Vaqueros (26-20, 12-12 WAC) up 4-2 and the fifth to make the score 7-2.

Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs and two runs scored. It was his first-career multi home run game. Gonzalez now has six home runs this season.

Gonzalez is the second Vaquero to hit a pair of 3-run home runs and drive-in six runs in a game this season, following junior PSJA High alumnus Jacob Sanchez, who did so at New Mexico State on March 26. This is the program’s fifth six-RBI game since 2008, along with Brandon Pimentel, who also hit two 3-run home runs against George Washington on Feb. 20, 2022, Vinnie Mejia against Louisiana Tech on March 5, 2010, and Jordan Rutenbar against Northern Colorado on May 3, 2008.

The Vaqueros hit three home runs in the game, as sophomore Steven Lancia hit a solo shot to dead center off Cooper Rons (3-3) to bring the Vaqueros within 2-1 in the second. Lancia now has six home runs this season.

The Vaqueros also scored on a two-out, RBI single by junior Kade York in the eighth to go up 8-3 and a two-out, RBI double by graduate student Montclair Cain in the ninth to go up 9-6.

York finished 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Pimentel went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Sophomore Edinburg Vela alumnus Isaac Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Junior Adrian Torres finished 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Senior Colten Davis (4-2) made the runs stand up, striking out seven while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks in 5.0 innings.

Graduate student Jesus Aldaz pitched the final 4.0 innings for his second save.

The Hornets (24-24, 10-14 WAC) scored their runs against Davis in the first, as Martin Vincelli-Simard hit a 2-run home run.

Vincelli-Simard added an RBI-single in the seventh to bring the Hornets within 7-3.

The Hornets loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, setting up a 3-run double by Jorge Bojorquez to make the score 8-6.

UTRGV concludes this eight-game road trip at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Texas A&M, a team receiving votes in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. Fans can watch on the SEC Network+.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Angelo Cabral struck out nine in a career-high 8.0 innings to lead the UTRGV baseball team to a 7-5 victory over the Sacramento State Hornets on Saturday at John Smith Field.

Cabral (9-1) didn’t walk anybody while allowing four runs on 10 hits.

The Vaqueros (25-20, 11-12 WAC) started the scoring in the third. With one out and junior Kade York on second, senior Zerek Saenz hit an RBI-double against Tyler Stewart (0-2). One out later, graduate student Brandon Pimentel greeted reliever Noah Lucchesi with an RBI-single to make the score 2-0.

The Vaqueros plated five runs in the fifth. Senior Vela alum RJ Ochoaopening the inning with a double. One out later, Saenz hit an RBI-single. Then, with two outs and runners at first and second, senior Roberto Gonzalez hit an RBI-single and graduate student Montclair Cain launched a 3-run home run to make the score 7-1.

Cain now has six home runs this season and 15 in his career, tied for the 12th-highest career total in program history with Richard Messer (1987-88) and Tommy Supak (1980-81).

Pimentel went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Saenz finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Ochoa went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Hornets (24-23, 10-13 WAC) scored against Cabral in the fourth on a JP Smith single, the eighth on a Josh Rolling home run, and the ninth on a Cesar Valero double and a Jacob Cortez single. The Hornets added one more in the ninth when Jorge Bojorquez grounded into an RBI-fielder’s choice.

UTRGV and Sacramento State conclude this 3-game series at 2 p.m. Sunday. Fans can watch domestically on ESPN+.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team dropped the rubber game of a 3-game series to the UT Arlington Mavericks 8-7 on Sunday at Clay Gould Ball Park.

After the Vaqueros (24-18, 10-11 WAC) went down 1-2-3 in each of the first two innings against CadenNoah, junior Adrian Torres continued his torrid weekend with a leadoff single. Senior Vela alum RJ Ochoa followed with a 2-run home run and then junior Kade York walked before advancing to second on a wild pitch. One out later, sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez hit an RBI-single and then graduate student Brandon Pimentel followed with a 2-run home run to knock out Noah and make the score 5-0.

Pimentel added another 2-run home in the seventh off Matt Novis (2-1) to put the Vaqueros up 7-3.

This was Pimentel’s first multi-home run game of the season and the third of his career. He now has 13 home runs this season, the fifth-highest single-season total in program history. Pimentel has 25 home runs in two seasons as a Vaquero, leaving him two shy of the program record of 27, held by Hall of Famer Mitchell Moran (1981-83).

Pimentel went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, during which time he’s hitting .440 (40-for-91) with 11 home runs, 37 RBI, 26 runs scored and three stolen bases.

Torres went 1-for-4 with a run scored to finish the series 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBI and three runs scored.

Graduate student Montclair Cain finished 2-for-4.

Senior Colten Davis held the Mavericks (23-20, 13-8 WAC) off the board through the first 3.2 innings. That’s when back-to-back singles set up a Ben Lumsden home run to make the score 5-3.

Senior Alex Verdugo took over with runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth and struck out Matt Cavanagh to escape the threat.

The Mavericks got a run back in the seventh on a 2-out RBI-single by Ryan Black to make the score 7-4.

Then, in the ninth, junior Nico Rodriguez (0-3) came in with runners at second and third and nobody out. Wilson Galvan greeted him with a 2-run single. Black followed with a 2-run home run to end the game.

UTRGV is scheduled to visit TCU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Fans can watch on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

The UTRGV baseball team launched four home runs among a season-high 20 hits to beat the Texas at Arlington Mavericks 11-2 on Saturday at Clay Gould Ball Park in Arlington.

Junior Adrian Torres, sophomore and Edinburg Vela alumnus Isaac Lopez, senior Roberto Gonzalez and Montclair Cain hit the home runs.

Torres’ home run was his second, a solo shot off Connery Peters (1-4) during the second inning to give the Vaqueros (24-17, 10-10 WAC) a 1-0 lead.

In the third, Lopez hit his ninth home run of the season. Then, after a single by Brandon Pimentel, Gonzalez hit his fourth home run to put the Vaqueros up 4-0.

Cain’s home run, his fifth, was a two-run shot in the seventh to make the score 8-1.

The Vaqueros also scored in the fifth on a Torres RBI single, the sixth on a Lopez RBI single, the seventh on a RBI single by senior Zerek Saenz, and the eighth on a RBI double by sophomore Steven Lancia and a Torres RBI single.

Four Vaqueros had three-hit games, including Torres, who drove in a career-high-tying three runs and scored once; Lopez, who also walked, drove in two runs and scored one run; Lancia, who drove in a run and scored a run; and Saenz, who drove in one run.

Pimentel extended his hitting streak to 19 games, during which time he’s hitting .430 (37-for-86) with 24 runs scored.

Junior Angelo Cabral pitched a career-high seven innings, striking out four and allowing six hits and two walks.

Junior Zach Tjelmeland pitched two scoreless innings, striking out one, to close the game.

UTRGV and UT Arlington close out their three-game series at 1 p.m. today. The game can be streamed online on ESPN+.

The UTRGV team drew 2,262 fans to break the single-season program attendance record while coming back from a six-run deficit to beat the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals 9-8 on Tuesday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.

UTRGV has now drawn 40,491 fans across 26 home dates this season, surpassing the 39,700 that attended 26 home dates in 1975 and the 38,400 that attended 20 home dates in 1972. UTRGV has three home games remaining, May 12-14 against Grand Canyon.

The Vaqueros (23-16) trailed 8-2 entering the bottom of the seventh. Senior Zerek Saenz, sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez and graduate student Brandon Pimentel walked to start the inning, setting up a 2-run single by senior Roberto Gonzalez. One out later, sophomore Steven Lancia grounded out to drive-in Pimentel and make the score 8-5.

The Vaqueros started the eighth inning with three-straight walks as well, this time by junior PSJA alum Jacob Sanchez, junior Kade York and Saenz. One out later, a wild pitch brought home Saenz. Pimentel followed by crushing a go-ahead home run over the center field wall off Seth Higdon (1-5) to give the Vaqueros a 9-8 lead. The home run, Pimentel’s 11th of the season, exited the ballpark at 109.7 miles per hour, traveling a projected 450 feet.

The 11 home runs are tied for the ninth-highest single-season total in program history. Pimentel now has 23 home runs, the second-highest career total in program history and just four behind Hall of Famer Mitchell Moran (27, 1981-83).

Pimentel went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, three RBI and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, during which time he’s hitting .447 (34-for-76) with nine home runs, 31 RBI and 22 runs scored. Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Sophomore Bobby Loya (1-0) earned his first Division I win, striking out one in a perfect eighth.

Junior Vela alum Nico Rodriguez struck out one in a scoreless ninth for his third save.

The Cardinals (22-19) got on the board in the first on a two-out double by Rey Mendoza that made the score 1-0.

Mendoza added a sacrifice fly in the third to make the score 2-0.

Junior Sebastian Mejia took over after that, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out four.

The Vaqueros got their first run in the third. Saenz drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and then took third when the throw went into center field. Lopez drove-in Saenz with a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1.

The Vaqueros tied the game at 2 with two outs in the sixth. Lancia led off with an infield-single on the eighth pitch of his at-bat. After an error put runners on the corners, Sanchez hit a game-tying single.

With one out in the top of the seventh, though, the Cardinals loaded the bases, setting up an RBI-single by Hernan Yanez, a run-scoring walk by Mendoza, a run-scoring hit by pitch by Cameron Crotte, and a 2-run double by Tony DeJesus to make the score 8-2.

UTRGV plays its next games on the road, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the first of three at UT Arlington. Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.

The UTRGV baseball team learned on Monday that senior pitcher Colten Davis earned Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors after delivering a dominant performance April 22.

Davis is the third Vaquero to earn National Player of the Week honors this season, as first baseman Brandon Pimentel was a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on April 10 and junior pitcher Angelo Cabral was named D1Baseball National Pitcher of the Week on February 27.

This is the first time UTRGV has racked up three National Player of the Week awards since 2021, when outfielder Freddy Rojas Jr. earned the honor twice and pitcher Kevin Stevens earned it once.

Davis recorded the best outing of his career April 22, racking up a career-high 12 strikeouts in a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings of an eventual 2-1, 10-inning win over Abilene Christian, which was receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday. Davis allowed just three singles and didn’t walk anyone while inducing two double plays. He faced just two batters over the minimum.

UTRGV hosts Incarnate Word on $2 Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg. General admission tickets and select concessions will be available for $2 or less.

Tickets are on sale now at UTRGVTickets.com.

The UTRGV baseball team scored twice in the 10th inning to come from behind and beat the Abilene Christian (ACU) Wildcats, a team receiving votes in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, 2-1 in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in front of a Bark in the Park doubleheader crowd of 2,152 humans and 216 dogs.

UTRGV won game one of Saturday’s doubleheader 8-4.

UTRGV has now drawn 38,229 fans across 25 home dates this season, the third-highest total in program history, behind only the 39,700 that attended 26 home dates in 1975 and the 38,400 that attended 20 home dates in 1972. On Saturday, UTRGV surpassed last year’s total of 37,220, accomplished across 24 dates, as well as the third-highest total of 37,450, accomplished across 26 dates during the 1971 College World Series season.

The Wildcats (25-14, 10-8 WAC) scored the game’s first run in the top of the 10th on an RBI-double by Maddox Miesse.

In the bottom of the inning, junior Kade York drew an eight-pitch leadoff walk from Blake Anderson (4-4). After a sacrifice bunt, sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez hit a ground ball to short. The Wildcats tried to get York, but he headed back to second and eluded the tag, putting two on with one out for graduate student Brandon Pimentel, who hit a game-tying single. Sophomore Steven Lancia came up as a pinch-hitter and worked the count 3-2 before sending the seventh pitch of his at-bat into right field to bring home Lopez and end the game.

York finished with a career-high three walks.

Junior Zach Tjelmeland (3-1) earned the win in relief by striking out five in 2.0 innings.

Senior Colten Davis started for the Vaqueros (22-16, 9-9 WAC), striking out a career-high 12 in a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings. Davis allowed just three singles and didn’t walk anybody. He also induced two double plays while facing just two over the minimum.

UTRGV hosts Incarnate Word on $2 Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. General admission tickets and select concessions will be available for $2 or less.

Tickets are on sale now at UTRGVTickets.com.

The UTRGV baseball team fell to the Abilene Christian (ACU) Wildcats, a team receiving votes in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, 4-2 on Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.

The Vaqueros (20-16, 7-9 WAC) got on the board right away, as senior Zerek Saenz led off the first with a double, and then one out later, graduate student Brandon Pimentel hit an RBI-double to make the score 1-0.

Then, down 2-1 in the third, Saenz and sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez led off with singles. After a wild pitch moved them up a base, senior Roberto Gonzalez brought home Saenz with a ground ball.

Saenz finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Graduate student Jesus Aldaz started for the Vaqueros, allowing a pair of unearned runs on four hits while striking out four in 5.0 innings.

The Wildcats (25-12, 10-6 WAC) scored with two outs and two strikes in the second when Garrett Williams hit a 2-run single.

Senior Alex Verdugo (2-1) took over in the sixth, striking out six in 3.1 innings of relief. He walked two batters in the ninth, though, setting up a 2-out, 2-strike, 2-run triple by Miller Ladusau to make the score 4-2.

That made a winner of Adam Stephenson (2-1), who struck out seven while walking two in 3.0 hitless innings of relief.

UTRGV and ACU conclude the series with a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday at 3 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

Both games will feature UTRGV’s Bark in the Park promotion.

The first 200 dogs in attendance will receive UTRGV bandanas. Gates open at 2 p.m.

Yaqui Animal Rescue and Canines in Action Academy, LLC will offer information and programming during the games.

Dogs get in free. Dog owners must purchase tickets. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. One ticket is good for admission to both games. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID. All fans need to follow the clear bag policy, details of which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag.

ENTRY TO THE GAME
After purchasing tickets, owners should check in with their dogs at the far-left gate at the front of UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Owners will then be asked to complete an attendance waiver.

Dogs will only be allowed inside the park with a completed waiver, which includes proof of up-to-date vaccinations.

A maximum of one dog per person is permitted.

SEATING OPTIONS
The left field side of the stadium will be dedicated for dogs and their owners.

Dogs must always remain on leash.

DOG WATER
Owners are permitted to bring water bowls for their dogs, but dog food is prohibited. Water will also be served community style in the dog play area.

DOG WASTE
Owners must clean up after their dogs.

Poop bags will be provided upon arrival to the stadium and will be available inside the stadium. All full poop bags should be thrown in a trash can.

Violators of these rules will be asked to leave the UTRGV Baseball Stadium immediately.

Fans unable to attend in person can watch game one worldwide for free via WAC International. Game two will be available domestically on ESPN+ and internationally via WAC International.

The ASUN Conference and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) football partnership is now officially known as the United Athletic Conference, as announced jointly on Monday by the football-sponsoring members of both conferences.

Entering its third year as a formal football partnership but first as a single entity, the United Athletic Conference now fully operates like a single-sport conference with an independent budget, policies and governing documents. The group will recognize its own league champion and at-large FCS playoffs automatic qualifier under a singular conference banner beginning with the 2023 football season.

The newly christened United Athletic Conference currently has nine participating institutions: Abilene Christian University, Austin Peay State University, University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Alabama, Southern Utah University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarleton State University and Utah Tech University. The conference will officially add The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in the fall of 2025 when it begins sponsorship of football.

As previously announced on Jan. 5, the governance structure of the United Athletic Conference features co-chairs of the Council of Presidents, Dr. James Hurley from Tarleton State University and Dr. David McFaddin from Eastern Kentucky University. Also included in the leadership is Executive Director Oliver Luck, WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton and outgoing ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart, with incoming ASUN Commissioner Jeff Baconofficially joining upon Gumbart’s retirement at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year.

The 2023 United Athletic Conference schedule will be limited to six conference games among its nine members. The 2024 schedule will feature a full eight-game single round robin. The team with the best conference record (and who owns any applicable tiebreakers in the case of matching league records) will be declared the United Athletic Conference champion and FCS playoffs AQ.

A full conference rollout including official marks, an official website and more information will be released in the coming months.