The UTRGV baseball team scored multiple runs in five different innings to beat the Tarleton Texans 15-5 in seven innings on Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
Senior Roberto Gonzalez led the Vaqueros (13-12, 4-6 WAC) offensively by going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a walk, a career-high four RBI and a career-high tying three runs scored. Graduate student Brandon Pimentel finished a season-high tying 3-for-5 with an RBI and a season-high three runs scored. Junior PSJA alum Jacob Sanchez went a career-high tying 3-for-4 with a career-high two doubles, two RBI and a career-high tying three runs scored. Sophomore Steven Lancia went 2-for-2 with two walks, a career-high tying three RBI, one run scored and one stolen base.
The Vaqueros took advantage of back-to-back errors to start the first, as with runners on the corners and nobody out, Pimentel hit into a fielder’s choice to bring home senior Zerek Saenz and Gonzalez hit an RBI-triple off Hunter Day (2-1) to make the score 2-0.
Pimentel led off the third with an infield single before moving to second on an error. Gonzalez followed with an RBI-single. After graduate student Montclair Cain walked and a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, junior Adrian Torres grounded out to bring home Gonzalez and Lancia hit an RBI-single to make the score 5-0.
The Texans (14-9, 1-4 WAC) got one back in the fourth on an RBI-single by Trace Morrison.
The Vaqueros scored four runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by Gonzalez, his second of the season, and a two-run single by Lancia to make the score 9-1.
The Texans scored three runs in the fifth on an errors and RBI-singles by Morrison and Cole Miears to pull within 9-4.
The Vaqueros got those runs back in the sixth on a wild pitch and a two-run double by Saenz to make the score 12-4.
Senior Alex Verdugo (3-0) retired the first four batters he faced in relief. In the seventh, though, the Texans put runners on the corners with two outs ahead of an RBI-double by Miears to make the score 12-5.
The Vaqueros put the first two runners aboard in the seventh. After a groundout put the runners in scoring position, Sanchez hit a two-run double and then Torres hit a walk-off double.
UTRGV and Tarleton play the middle game of this three-game series on Selena Night Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Fans dressed like or wearing Selena attire will get discounted tickets. There will also be a No. 1 Selena fan outfit contest. Fans will have the opportunity to win an “Anything for Selena” bracelet through baseball bingo.
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.