The UTRGV baseball team was outdueled 14-8 by the Central Michigan Chippewas (CMU) on Tuesday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.

UTRGV (3-1) senior starting pitcher J.C. Ariza recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work and the pitching staff combined to strike out 22 batters – the most in a single game since at least 2014. Senior centerfielder Zerek Saenz blasted two solo homeruns and was joined by sophomore catcher Steven Lancia, redshirt sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez and graduate student right fielder Montclair Cain with two hits each. Lancia drove in a team-high and career-high three RBI while knocking two doubles. Senior designated hitter Roberto Gonzalez drove in two runs. Ariza took the loss on the mound.

CMU (3-1) was helped by a pair of three-run homeruns from Luke Sefcik and Robby Morgan IV. Morgan notched a game-high five RBI. Garrett Navarra went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Evan Waters picked up the win, tossing two hitless innings with three strikeouts and two walks.

Ariza got off to a hot start, striking out the side in the top of the first. But the Chippewas came back in the second to take a 3-0 lead after a three-run homerun by Sefcik that carried with the wind over the left field wall. Ariza came right back to record his fifth and sixth strikeouts to end the frame.

UTRGV trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the home half of the second inning. Redshirt junior left fielder Adrian Torres showcased his speed to reach on a fielder’s choice to second, then went first-to-home on a RBI double down the third base line by Lancia. Lancia came around to score following a RBI single by junior shortstop Kade York.

The Vaqueros jumped on top 4-3 and chased CMU starting pitcher Ben Vitas from the game in the bottom of the third. Saenz opened the frame with a solo home run to left, then Roberto Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead RBI single to center that scored Lopez after he reached on a single.

Ariza struck out the side in the fourth to reach 10 strikeouts in a game for the first time in his career.

But in the top of the fifth, Morgan sent a two-out, three-run homerun off the light pole in left field to put the Chippewas back on top 6-4, ending Ariza’s night. The senior allowed five hits and six earned runs. CMU added a run on a RBI single by Jake Brill off redshirt senior relief pitcher Alex Verdugo.

Lopez and Cain strung together back-to-back singles to start a big bottom of the fifth for the Vaqueros. Gonzalez worked a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 7-5, then Lancia smoked a two-RBI double down the first base line to tie the battle at 7-7.

CMU took advantage of defensive miscues to retake the lead, 11-7, in the top of the sixth. An error at shortstop and another in left field on the same play following a bases-loaded shot by Morgan allowed three runs to score. Morgan crossed home following a wild pitch.

UTRGV loaded the bases with one out in the home half of the frame but Waters worked out of the jam. The Chippewas added a run in the seventh after a bases-loaded walk, then redshirt sophomore pitcher Jack Lopez took the mound and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to limit the damage and leave the bases juiced.

CMU extended the lead to 14-7 with a two-RBI single by Cole Prout in the eighth.

Saenz hit his second homerun of the game in the bottom of the eighth, making it 14-8. Jack Lopez and graduate student Abanny Garcia both tallied a career-high four strikeouts.

The Vaqueros and Chippewas will face off again in a four-game series starting with a single-admission doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com.

The UTRGV baseball team improved to 2-0 to start the 2023 season by beating the Houston Christian Huskies 10-6 on Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg in front of a crowd of 1,519.

The Vaqueros scored the first four runs on wild pitches, as sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopez, graduate student Montclair Cain, and senior Roberto Gonzalez scored in a first inning that featured three wild pitches, two errors, two walks and one single.

The Vaqueros then went up 4-0 on a wild pitch that scored Cain in the third.

After the Huskies scored twice in the top of the fourth, senior Zerek Saenz used an RBI-groundout to put the Vaqueros up 5-2 and chased Huskies (0-2) starter Walker Zander (0-1) in the bottom of the inning.

The Vaqueros added four more runs in the fifth. Cain drew a leadoff walk and Gonzalez followed with a single that moved Cain to third. Cain scored on a passed ball and then graduate student Brandon Pimentel hit an RBI-double. One out later, junior Adrian Torres hit an RBI-double. Then, after a single by sophomore Steven Lancia put runners on the corners, junior Kade York laid down a suicide squeeze to bring home Torres and cap the inning with the Vaqueros up 9-2.

Cain scored a career-high tying three times and Gonzalez scored twice. Pimentel finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Lancia went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Sophomore Randy Garza started for the Vaqueros, striking out four in 4.0 innings while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks.

Both runs against Garza came in the fourth on a two-run double by Reed Chumley.

Junior Angelo Cabral (1-0) took over in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings. In the seventh, however, Cash Benavides hit a leadoff double. One out later, Austin Roccaforte hit an RBI-single and Damian Ruiz walked. Sophomore Jack Lopez took over and gave up an RBI-single to Logan Letney to make the score 9-4. Lopez bounced back with his first-career strikeout before getting a ground ball to escape the inning.

Samuel Benjamin hit a two-run home run in the eighth to make the score 9-6.

Junior Zach Tjelmeland came in to get the final out of the eighth and then the Vaqueros added some insurance in the bottom of the inning. Saenz hit a two-out triple and scored on an error to put the Vaqueros up 10-6.

Tjelmeland came back out in the ninth and struck out the side for his third-career save.

The Vaqueros and Huskies play the finale game of this three-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m. 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 11 a.m.

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

Single-day tickets for the 2023 Western Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, co-hosted by UTRGV and the City of Pharr from Feb. 22-25 at the City of Pharr Natatorium, are on sale at UTRGVTickets.com, UTRGV announced Wednesday.

The WAC Swimming & Diving Championships will feature competitors from Air Force, California Baptist, Grand Canyon, Idaho, Incarnate Word, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Seattle, UNLV, Utah Tech and Wyoming.

Single-day tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 17 years and younger.

All-session passes are also on sale, costing $40 for adults and $30 for children under the age of 18.

Students enrolled in WAC institutions such as UTRGV at the time of the event receive free admission with a student ID.

Tickets also will be available for purchase each day in-person at the natatorium via credit card only starting one hour before the start of each session.

Each day of competition is split into two sessions, with the first session starting at 10:30 a.m. and the second session starting at 6 p.m. The senior recognition is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 25. A complete schedule of events can be found at WACSports.com.

The City of Pharr Natatorium can seat 1,200 fans and is equipped with two scoreboard and video boards, a visible running clock, and built-in areas to sell both concessions and merchandise.

The UTRGV women’s basketball team lost on the road against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 73-66 on Thursday at America First Event Center in Cedar City, UT.

Sophomore Iyana Dorsey led UTRGV (9-15, 3-10 WAC) with 21 points, on 8-of-19 shooting, with two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Sophomore KaCee Kyle chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore Deborah Ogayemi added five points with six rebounds.

Southern Utah (16-8, 12-1 WAC) was led Charita Daugherty who scored 32 points with six rebounds. Daylani Ballena scored 13 points with four rebounds and three assists and Megan Jensen added eighth points with four blocks.

In the second half, the Vaqueros put together a 13-4 run that was highlighted by 3-pointers from junior Mele Kailahi, Kyle and junior Arianna Sturdivant, which tied the game at 42-42. After the Thunderbirds regained the lead, the Vaqueros scored the final nine points of the third quarter to take the 51-46 lead. UTRGV outscored Southern Utah 22-8 in the third quarter.

UTRGV opened the fourth with a layup from Soysal that extended their lead to 53-46 but Southern Utah took advantage of the free throw line in the final quarter to claw their way back. After four straight free throws by the Thunderbirds, Dorsey knocked down a three-pointer and Ogayemi made a layup to push their lead to 58-52 but the Thunderbirds followed with a15-2 run to take the lead for good.

The Vaqueros will be back in action at 3 p.mm. Saturday when they visit Utah Tech.

The UTRGV men’s basketball team fell to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 82-72 on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in front of a sold-out homecoming crowd of 2,788, the largest to watch a UTRGV men’s basketball game at the UTRGV Fieldhouse since the addition of chair back seats in 2010 lowered listed capacity from 4,000 to 2,500.

This was UTRGV’s second sell out of the season after drawing 2,606 fans for a game against California Baptist at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on Jan. 28, 2023.

Senior Justin Johnson led the Vaqueros (12-14, 3-10 WAC) with 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Junior Daylen Williams scored 15 points with nine rebounds, two steals and a career-high tying two blocks. Freshman Adante’ Holiman scored 10 points with five assists and a career-high three steals. Sophomore Derrius Ward scored nine points. Sophomore Will Johnston scored eight points with three assists and one block.

Roti Ware led the Lumberjacks (16-9, 8-4 WAC) with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Latrell Jossell scored 16 points with three assists. Jalil Beaubrun scored 10 points with eight rebounds.

The Vaqueros led early, as a layup by junior Ahren Freeman and a Williams hook shot made the score 4-3.

The Lumberjacks scored the next eight points to take the lead. The Vaqueros got as close as four four times, at 15-11 on a Johnson free throw, 17-13 on a Ward dunk, 19-15 on a Freeman layup, and 22-18 on a Johnson 3-point play.

The Lumberjacks used a 13-5 run to go up 35-23 late in the first half. The Vaqueros scored the final six points of the half, pulling within 37-31 on a Johnson layup.

The Vaqueros made the score 39-34 on a Holiman 3-point play early in the second half before the Lumberjacks hit three-straight 3-pointers as part of a 16-3 run to go up 55-37.

Williams responded with a 3-pointer and two free throws to bring the Vaqueros within 13 at the 14:47 mark. The Vaqueros pulled within 11 six minutes later on a pair of free throws by sophomore John Shanu II that made the score 67-56. The Vaqueros pulled within 11 again on a Ward 3-point play with 1:19 remaining and then Johnson hit a free throw one minute later to complete the scoring.

UTRGV visits Grand Canyon on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Fans can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.

The UTRGV women’s basketball team dropped a Western Athletic Conference road game 76-42 against the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks on Thursday at Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches.

Sophomore Iyana Dorsey led the Vaqueros (8-14, 2-9 WAC) with 12 points and two steals. Junior Tiffany McGarity scored 10 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals, and sophomore Deborah Ogayemi added eighth points with five rebounds and two blocks.

Stephen F. Austin (20-4, 10-2 WAC) had three players in double figures, with Aiyana Johnson leading the way with 18 points and seven rebounds. Zoe Nelson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jordan Harrison scored 13 points with six assists.

The Ladyjacks got off to a 9-4 lead after a layup by Johnson, but a layup by freshman Charlotte O’Keefe got UTRGV within 9-6. Later in the quarter, junior Halie Jones knocked down a 3-pointer that cut into SFA’s lead at 13-9, but the Ladyjacks closed out the first on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 20-9.

The Vaqueros answered right before the half with a 15-5 run as McGarity led the way by scoring eight of her 10 points, getting UTRGV within 36-28.

The Ladyjacks answered with a 14-4 run to start the second half, pushing their lead 52-32. Dorsey and Ogayemi combined to close out the third with a 6-0 run on a couple of layups and a jumper to get within 52-38.

That’s as close as the Vaqueros got as the Ladyjacks scored the first 17 points of the fourth to put the game out of reach.

The UTRGV women’s basketball team is back in action at 4 p.m. Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg to take on Abilene Christian. The UTRGV men’s basketball team will follow the women’s team with a 6:30 p.m. tipoff against Stephen F. Austin. Tickets can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com.

The Western Athletic Conference announced UTRGV freshman center Charlotte O’Keefe is the WAC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week for her play from Jan. 31-Feb. 6.

O’Keefe averaged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, going 9-of-19 (.474) from the floor and 2-of-4 (.500) from 3-point range last week.

Charlotte O’Keefe UTRGV Athletics

O’Keefe started off the week by helping the Vaqueros defeat Utah Tech 69-65 as she scored 10 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. The 17 rebounds are the sixth most in a single game in program history and tied the program record for rebounds in a WAC game.

O’Keefe closed out the week by setting a new career high with 14 points against Southern Utah and also set a career high with two 3-pointers made.

O’Keefe is averaging 5.9 points and 6.2 rebounds — which ranks second on the team — per game while averaging 1.5 assists.

The Vaqueros are back in action at 1 p.m. Thursday on the road against Stephen F. Austin before returning to the Valley for a 4 p.m. meeting against Abilene Christian on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg.

The UTRGV women’s basketball team picked up a 69-65 victory against the Utah Tech Trailblazers behind a dominant performance on the boards Thursday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg.

The Vaqueros out-rebounded the Trailblazers 54-36, including 28-8 on the offensive glass, to snap a five-game losing streak in conference play.

UTRGV improves to 8-12 overall and 2-7 in Western Athletic Conference competition.

“We’ve been in this same position the whole conference season and tonight we got over the hump and we made the plays down the stretch that we needed to make. We really focused on rebounding this week and we out-rebounded them 54-36,” UTRGV head coach Lane Lord said.

Freshman Charlotte O’Keefe led the Vaqueros with a career-high 17 rebounds, tied for sixth-highest single-game total in program history, and 10 points for her second double-double. This is the first time a Vaquero has grabbed 17 rebounds in a game since Dec. 17, 2016, when Mary Savoy had 17 rebounds against Evangel. The 17 rebounds also tied the program record for rebounds in a WAC game, matching Brittany Bush’s 17 against New Mexico State on Feb. 20, 2014.

Sophomore Deborah Ogayemi grabbed 13 rebounds with 14 points and three steals for her fourth double-double. Junior Mele Kailahi scored a team-high 15 points on a career-high five 3-pointers. Sophomore KaCee Kyle finished with 13 points.

“I think a lot of us were tired of losing by single digits. A lot of it came down to that fourth quarter, just the fight, even if you’re down, you still have to keep fighting and we did that this game,” Kyle said.

“We knew in the fourth quarter it wasn’t going to be easy but we had to compose ourselves. The only way to win was to fight, but with composure, so that’s exactly what we did in the fourth quarter,” Ogayemi said.

Amber Kartchner led the Trailblazers (13-8, 5-5 WAC) with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and two block. Taylia Stimpson scored 10 points with four assists.

The Vaqueros scored the first 10 points of the third quarter as part of what became a 16-1 run over a span of five minutes in which Ogayemi hit five layups, Kyle hit two layups and a jumper, and the Vaqueros went 8-for-12 from the field to take a 42-31 lead.

The Trailblazers caught fire after that, going on a 14-2 run to regain the lead. The Vaqueros tied the game at 48 on an O’Keefe jumper in the closing seconds of the quarter.

The Trailblazers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to take the lead, but Kailahi responded with three-straight 3-pointers to put the Vaqueros up 57-52.

The Trailblazers took the lead once more at 58-57 with 4:27 remaining, but the Vaqueros scored the next nine points, including a 3-pointer by junior Halie Jones, to take the lead for good.

UTRGV is back in action at 2 p.m. Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg to face Southern Utah.

Tickets are available at UTRGVTickets.com.

UTRGV announced on Wednesday that fans have now placed deposits for the first 1,000 season tickets in UTRGV football history, doing so less than six weeks after UTRGV started accepting deposits.

“What a tremendous response to reach such an incredible number just over a month after we first started accepting season ticket deposits,” UTRGV vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque said. “It is evident the Valley is excited about Division I football and excited about having Coach Bush at the helm of our program. We are deeply appreciative of the incredible support the community is showing toward UTRGV football and can’t wait to #RallyTheValley together in 2025.”

Fans can reserve season tickets with a $25 deposit for the inaugural season of UTRGV football in 2025. Fans can make their deposits at UTRGVTickets.com. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable and will be applied toward season ticket purchases.

“I want to thank the community for rallying behind our program so quickly,” UTRGV head football coach Travis Bush said. “This puts an exclamation point on the support and the excitement for UTRGV football in the Valley. We’re going to do it big. I still have a lot of people asking me about how to get on board with tickets, so you can plan on that number continuing to increase. I’m looking forward to our first game in 2025 in front of a sellout crowd.”

UTRGV Athletics is still finalizing details regarding ticket prices, but the plan is to offer a variety of price points with season tickets as low as $99 to ensure there is something for everyone.

UTRGV is committed to playing games in both the upper and lower Valley. Seat locations will be determined closer to the start of the inaugural season.

UTRGV Athletics is giving priority for choosing seats to current V Club members, season ticket holders of any sport, and corporate partners.

Fans with questions can contact the UTRGV Athletics Ticket Office team of Eddie Galvan (956-222-2935) and Ryela Rodriguez (956-329-0884) over the phone or through email at [email protected].

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Tuesday plans to officially retire the #6 jersey worn by former baseball student-athlete Jody Ramsey’s at the home opener on February 17 at 6:30 p.m. against Houston Christian at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

On February 24, 1973, Ramsey, who was a student-athlete on the baseball team, was working on the construction of the new baseball stadium being built on campus. As one of the laborers, he spent many hours on the site of the ballpark and, in an unfortunate turn of events, was killed in an electrical accident before the stadium had reached completion.

UTRGV athletics will retire former baseball student-athlete Jody Ramsey’s No. 6 jersey during this year’s season opener on Feb. 17. UTRGV Athletics

After his death, the #6 was never again handed out by any of the head coaches of the baseball program, including Al Ogletree (1968-97), Reggie Tredaway (1998-02), Willie Gawlik (2003-08), Manny Mantrana (2009-17), and Derek Matlock (2018-Present). However, it had never been officially retired. Now the #6 and the name “Ramsey” will forever be enshrined on the UTRGV Baseball Stadium outfield wall.

“Jody was a dedicated Christian athlete and was called to his forever home way too soon,” said Kenneth Ramsey, Jody’s brother. “He exemplified how an athlete should represent his team and school. Jody admired Pan American coach Al Ogletree and his Broncs team. Speaking on behalf of his departed parents, Johnny and Cue Bell Ramsey, and departed sister, Nina, we appreciate the honors and generosity the university has bestowed upon Jody since his tragic accident. The retirement of Jody’s #6 just exemplifies the generosity and appreciation UTRGV has for its student-athletes.”

A 2013 inductee into the Athletics Hall of Honor, Ramsey has long been remembered by the university, as students petitioned the Pan American University Board of Regents to name the park he had been working on in Ramsey’s memory. The recommendation was accepted unanimously, and in 1974, the baseball team took the field to play their first season in Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium.

UTRGV athletics will retire former baseball student-athlete Jody Ramsey’s No. 6 jersey during this year’s season opener on Feb. 17. UTRGV Athletics

The baseball team played in Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium from 1974-2001 before moving to what is now known as UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium was removed in 2003 to allow for the construction of the College of Education building. The Jody Ramsey Memorial Plaza was dedicated on April 28, 2007 on the site of the former stadium.

Additionally, the baseball team is restarting the Jody Ramsey Memorial Award this year. The award is given to a senior baseball player and is considered the top award that can be earned. The memorial award goes to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the standards set by Ramsey, meaning they must show superior athletic ability, character, leadership, and dedication to excellence on and off the field.

“We’re excited to be able to honor Jody this way,’ Matlock said. “I’ve heard what a great human being he was in addition to being an outstanding baseball player. This award will allow us to keep Jody Ramsey’s spirit alive while instilling his values within our team.”

Ramsey was also previously honored through the Jody Ramsey Tournament every year from 1980 through 1995.

On the field, Ramsey was the baseball team’s leading hitter and co-captain during the 1972 season. He led the team in eight statistical categories, including hitting (.346), games played (56), at-bats (185), runs scored (47), hits (64), triples (four), stolen bases (17) and walks. He also earned NCAA All-District VI honors.

While he was very impressive on the field, Ramsey was equally outstanding in his character and standards of living. He was twice elected president of the Pan American University Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ramsey lived an outstanding moral existence and had a brief, but brilliant career with the baseball team.