UTB-TSC Capsules: Scorpions take two from Texas College

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College baseball team wrapped up a win in a suspended game than tacked on another in a regularly scheduled game against Red River Athletic Conference for Texas College on Saturday at Scorpion Field.

The Scorpions (17-18, 2-1 RRAC) won each game 8-7 in their final at-bat. The first game was a continuation of Saturday night's game, which was suspended after an on-field scuffle involving two players.

The seven-inning game resumed at 11 a.m., and ended as Matt Warner's single in the eighth inning drove in Peter Maldonado with the winning run.

Jacob Yousif's sacrifice fly drove in Jorge Camorlinga with the winning run in a three-run ninth-inning rally in the regulation game Saturday.

"It's a good way to start conference play, winning two of three," Scorpions coach Bryan Aughney said. "All three were very hard-played games. All of them could have gone either way. Our guys showed a lot of resiliency, we never gave up and competed every pitch."

The Scorpions are in the middle of stretch of 17 straight home games. They played their 12th game in seven days Saturday and have gone 9-3 in that stretch. In the month of March, the Scorpions are 14-5.

"We're playing better and better each day, and we need to keep it rolling," Aughney said.

The Scorpions' next game is against New Mexico State, the first NCAA Division I team to visit Scorpion Field. The teams will play at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The Aggies (19-2) are averaging 13 runs per game and are members of the Western Athletic Conference.

UTB-TSC 8, Texas College 7

Friday's second game of a doubleheader was halted in the top of the fifth inning with the score tied at 5. UTB-TSC Athletic Director Vernon Mummert said a Texas College player slid into a Scorpions player at second base to break up a double play with two outs in the fifth. The players then began exchanging words, causing the commotion.

The players, who the school would not identify, will be suspended three games, Mummert said.

"Both teams left the field with the understanding to behave better and not leave the benches," Mummert said.

After the scheduled seven-inning game resumed, each team scored two runs to send it to the eighth.

Peter Maldonado walked to lead off the eighth, was sacrificed to second by David Pittman and scored on Warner's single to center.

Warner, who has taken over the team lead in batting average, had two of the eight Scorpions hits. Jorge Camorlinga and Maldonado scored two runs each.

Danny Gidora started on the mound for the Scorpions, allowing only two earned runs in the Friday night portion of the game. He struck out seven and allowed five hits. Tony Lerma and Evan Hardman pitched Saturday morning, with Hardman getting the victory.

UTB-TSC 8, Texas College 7

The Scorpions scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead before the Steers scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings to take a 4-2 lead.

UTB-TSC erupted for three runs in the seventh, highlighted by Juan Munoz's two-run home run, to take a 5-4 lead before Robert Gordon homered for the Steers to tie it at 5 in the eighth.

Texas College took a 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth, but UTB-TSC pinch-hitter Brian Bustos and Warner singled in the Scorpions' half of the inning, preceding a two-run pinch-hit triple by Tyler O'Neal in his first at-bat of the series. Ryan Macdonald and Munoz both walked to load the bases to precede Yousif's sacrifice fly to end the game.

Munoz added a two-run homer for the Scorpions. Warner and Yousif had two hits apiece.

Despite giving up two runs in the ninth, Hardman (3-3) was the winning pitcher for the second time in the same day, a rare feat for a pitcher.

UTB-TSC women's golf beats Nebraska Wesleyan in match play

LAGUNA VISTA -- The UTB/TSC women's golf team defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 4-1 in dual match play Saturday at the South Padre Island Golf Club.

The two teams meet again at 8 a.m. Sunday in medal play.

Scorpion senior April Martinez won her match, 8 and 7, senior Allison Valles won 5 and 4, sophomore Andrea Cadriel won 3 and 2, freshman Krystal Garza won 3 and 1, and freshman Pam Lopez lost 3 and 2.

After Sunday's medal play, the Scorpions next play March 30 and 31 at the Northwood Invitational in DeSoto.