RGV Capsules: Gidora named RRAC pitcher of week a fifth time
After an impressive three-hit complete game shutout against one of the nation's best-hitting teams, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College's Danny Gidora has been named Red River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Gidora turned in his best pitching performance of the season last week against Louisiana State University-Shreveport, the fifth-ranked team in the NAIA and the leader in the Red River Athletic Conference. LSUS is ranked in the top 10 nationally in doubles, triples, home runs, hits, runs scored, runs batted in and slugging percentage.
LSUS came to Scorpion Field averaging nearly 10 runs scored per game. The Pilots had been shut out only once this year by NCAA Division I member Louisiana Tech 2-0.
Gidora, a senior, made his final home appearance of his collegiate career one to remember. He pitched his fifth complete game shutout of the season, holding LSUS to only three hits in a 5-0 Scorpion victory. He struck out five and walked two while throwing 101 pitches. LSUS had only six baserunners.
The win was his ninth of the season against two losses, and he broke teammate Julian Moya's school record for wins in one season.
Gidora has thrown complete game shutouts over University of Houston-Victoria twice, Texas Wesleyan, Huston-Tillotson, Jarvis Christian College, and LSU-Shreveport.
In 11 starts, Gidora has completed eight games, winning seven of those complete games. He threw a complete game against Texas College in a 2-1 loss.
His season earned run average of 1.23 is 11th best in the NAIA. Of the 10 players with lower ERAs, Gidora has logged the most innings (73), and only one has a better pitching won-loss record.
His nine wins is tied for fourth in the NAIA. His ERA is lower than the three players with 10 or more wins, and is second lowest among the pitchers with nine wins.
Scorpions in third at NAIA qualifier
EDMOND, Okla. - University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College is one shot behind second place after the first day of the NAIA Unaffiliated No. 1 Qualifier Tournament, an eight-team tournament with teams from three conferences, at the Rose Creek Golf Course.
The Scorpions shot their best team round all season with a 350 score, one shot behind Southwestern College (Kan.), which had a 349. Northwood leads with a 316 score.
Teams from the Red River Athletic Conference, Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, and Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference are participating. The second 18 holes of the 36-hole tournament will be played Tuesday.
Krystal Garza led the Scorpions with a round of 82, which places her fifth in the medalist race. Other scores for UTB-TSC included Elizabeth Garza's 86, Andrea Cadriel's 90, and Cat Lira's 92. Eneida Alonso's 97 did not count toward the team total.
The team champion and the individual medalist will qualify for the NAIA women's golf national championship May 17 through 20 in Greeneville, Tenn.
-- UTB-TSC Services
Other RGV College News
Broncs dealing with two-game skid heading into Austin
EDINBURG — A two-game losing streak is not exactly the best way to arrive in Austin for a game against one of the most-storied college baseball teams.
The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs are in the state capital for a 6 p.m. game today against the fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns (27-9) after losing two straight this past weekend against NJIT.
Before the NJIT series, the then-surging Broncs (16-12) were probably favored to win the four-game set but after a slew of errors earned a split. There is a feeling among the Broncs, however, that they gave those losses away. UTPA committed 13 errors in four games against NJIT.
“It would have been nice to go (to Austin) with a nine-game win streak,” Broncs rightfielder Stuart MacInnes said. “I don’t think that gives us any less or better of a chance to win (today). We just have to go out there and play our game and hopefully hang with them and beat them.”
One reason the Broncs didn’t play their game against NJIT was because of injuries. Tom Sicking started the season a shortstop but went down with an injury. His replacement, Brandon Roush, also suffered an injury and is probable for this weekend’s Great West Conference series at Northern Colorado.
During Sunday’s game, outfielder Alex Carnall left the game after being injured but is expected to play tonight. The injuries have forced coach Manny Mantrana to shift his players around, contributing to the shaky defense, or so the coach hopes.
“I would like to think that,” Mantrana said. “You have your starters, and they are your starters for a reason. But, like we tell the kids, regardless of who is in the lineup, we have to win. We have to make good decisions with the baseball.”
UTPA will need to make good decisions to beat Texas, a team the Broncs nearly upset last season. The Longhorns beat UTPA 3-2.
Kyle Kotchie (1-2, 6.48 ERA) was a big reason UTPA had a chance and will take the mound tonight. In seven innings against the Longhorns, Kotchie struck out 11 and allowed two earned runs. Kotchie, though, balked in a second inning run.
Kotchie said the heartbreaking loss is still fresh on his mind, adding that the team is not intimidated by Top 25 programs. For the most part, UTPA held its own against No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 14 TCU earlier this season.
“We surprised a lot of people by playing with them the whole game,” Kotchie said about last season’s Texas game. “But that was not our goal. That was not my goal. We don’t want to play just to play with them. We want to win.
“It was a little frustrating with how things turned out. We got them again this year. Hopefully, it’s a different outcome.”
EXTRA BASES: The Longhorns are coming off a 2-1 series win against Texas Tech. … Texas is 6-39 all time against UTPA.
Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.
