1st-Ever Meeting Of Valley's Two College Baseball Programs
Read more: Local, UT Brownsville Scorpions, Texas Pan American Broncs, College Baseball, College, NCAA Baseball
EDINBURG -- For the first time in the program’s history, the University of Texas-Pan American baseball program (6-27) faced the UT-Brownsville Scorpions in the “Battle of the Orange” at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. UTPA broke open a tight game with a 10-run seventh inning and downed UTB, 15-2 Wednesday. The game marked the first meeting ever between the two schools during the regular season. UTPA is a member of the NCAA Division I while UTB is a member of the NAIA. UTB dropped to 24-22 for the season while UTPA is now 6-27.
The Broncs then host the TCU Horned Frogs for a three-game series starting this Thursday (April 9) with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
The Scorpions host Wiley College in a Red River Athletic Conference three-game series starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Scorpion Field.
“The number one thing today was our pitching. Scott Wingo dominated today and credit must be given to him,” said head coach Manny Mantrana. “When he (Wingo) pitches for us, he gives us a chance to win. Wingo threw a complete game with 11 strikeouts, giving up only one run.
Scorpion starting pitcher Dennis Ortiz was brilliant again. He pitched six strong shutout innings in a 10-0 victory over Texas A&M University International last week and held the Broncs scoreless through five innings Wednesday.
He gave up a single run in the sixth inning and left the night allowing four hits and one earned run and left with the score tied, 1-1. Then UTPA turned up the heat in the bottom of the seventh as the Broncs scored the most runs in an inning this season:10 to give UTPA an 11-1 lead.
UTPA then scored four in the eighth, sparked by a two-run homer by Garrett Bivone.
