UTRGV Athletics Week in Review: March 1 – 7 - The Valley's Student Station

Vaquero junior outside hitter Sara Cruz goes up on an attack during Monday’s 3-0 victory over California Baptist University at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. COURTESY PHOTO/UTRGV ATHLETICS.

Baseball (7-4)

Monday night 2-0 victory vs. Washington in Seattle

In the fourth game of the series against the Huskies, the Vaqueros earned the win behind the combined two-hitter from starting sophomore pitcher J.C. Ariza, sophomore reliever Colten Davis and junior closer Deryk Serbantez.

Junior catcher RJ Ochoa had an RBI in the eighth to give the Vaqueros the lead and graduate infielder Andy Atwood added an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single.

Friday night 11-1 seven inning victory vs. Northern Illinois University

An eight run, seven hit fourth inning propelled the Vaqueros to the win as starting senior pitcher Kevin Stevens earned his first win of the season in six innings of work striking out 10 and allowing one run on four hits.

The Vaqueros scored three runs in the bottom of the second on a three-run home run by graduate shortstop Christian Sepulveda, his second of the season.

The game was called in the seventh inning as the 10-run rule was enacted.

Saturday evening 15-2 seven inning victory vs. Northern Illinois University

UTRGV quickly led in the game 3-2 after the first two innings of play.

The Vaqueros opened the game wide open as they put up nine runs in the bottom half of the third.

In the fourth, the Vaqueros would add three more runs on a graduate outfielder Coleman Grubbs two-RBI single to left center and a sophomore PH Angel De La Cruz RBI sac fly to left field.

Starting sophomore pitcher Colten Davis was the winning pitcher, throwing six innings striking out six and allowing four hits and two runs.

The 10-run rule was enacted in the seventh inning.

Sunday afternoon 4-3 eight inning victory vs. Northern Illinois University

In the first game of a seven inning Sunday doubleheader, starting sophomore pitcher J.C. Ariza, after allowing two runs in the top of the first, retired the next 17 batters he faced.

The Vaqueros struggled on offense until in the bottom of the sixth as graduate catcher Christian Sepulveda hit an RBI-single followed by a junior right fielder Freddy Rojas Jr. RBI double to give UTRGV the 3-2.

The Huskies responded in the top of the seventh with a homerun against Ariza to send the game to extras. Ariza finished the day with eight strikeouts in 6.1 innings for work allowing three runs on four hits.

The Vaqueros would walk-off in the bottom of the eight when junior third baseman Deandre Shelton, with the bases loaded, hit an RBI-single to center to score the winning run.

Sunday evening 5-4 seven inning victory vs. Northern Illinois University

In the second game of the Sunday doubleheader, the Vaqueros hung on for a late 5-4 victory over the Huskies as junior closer Deryk Serbantez recorded his second save of the season in 1.1 frame of work, allowing two hits and two runs striking out two.

The Vaqueros scored early and often, in the first inning they jumped out to a 4-0 lead with an RBI-singles from graduate first baseman Conrado Diaz and sophomore second baseman Diego Ramirez and a two RBI-double by graduate center fielder Coleman Grubbs.

The fifth run would come in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to leftfield by freshman left fielder Spencer Serven.

Graduate starting pitcher Max Balderrama Jr. earned the victory, allowing two hits and a walk in five innings of work and striking out 10.

Men’s Basketball (9-9, 2-5)

Tuesday afternoon 51-69 defeat vs. New Mexico State in El Paso

In the Vaqueros third game in five days, they fell to the reigning WAC Champion Aggies as the team struggled to shoot, hitting only 36% from the field, 23% from deep and 55% from the charity stripe.

Graduate forward Jeff Otchere led the way for the Vaqueros with 11 points and five rebounds.

Friday night 47-65 defeat vs. Tarleton State at Bert Ogden Arena

The Vaqueros were held to less than 50 points for the first time since Dec. 28, 2018 when they fell to No. 11 Texas Tech on the road.

UTRGV’s shooting woes continued as the team shot 36% from the field, 23% from deep and 68% from the free throw line.

Saturday night 58-69 defeat vs. Tarleton State

In the final home game for graduate guard Nick Mora; forward Jeff Otchere; senior guards Javon Levi; Rob McClain Jr.; Chris Freeman; and forward Anthony Bratton, the Vaqueros fell in a tough loss at home.

Despite Levi having a 19-point, eight rebound and seven assist performance the Vaqueros are currently on a five-game losing streak headed into the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas.

The Vaqueros will be the lowest seed, No. 6, in the tournament and will have a quarterfinal matchup with New Mexico State University 10 p.m. Thursday on ESPN+.

Women’s Basketball (6-13, 2-8)

Friday night 62-56 victory vs. Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas

The Vaqueros snapped their three-game losing streak by going on a 16-5 run in the second quarter which helped them gain and maintain the lead the rest of the way.

Graduate guard Amara Graham led all scorers with 24 points. Junior center Burcu Soysal despite not getting a basket corralled 10 boards.

Saturday night 52-63 defeat vs. Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas

On a night that the Vaqueros struggled to shoot the ball, graduate guard Amara Graham finished with nine points and nine rebounds and became the 8th player to surpass 1,000 career points in program history with a second quarter three-pointer.

The Vaqueros will enter the WAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and will have an opening quarterfinal matchup against Grand Canyon University 10 p.m. March 10 on ESPN+.

Women’s Golf

11th place finish out of 15 at the GCU Invitational in Phoenix

In the first of three outings in the month of March, the team finished in 11th place with a three-round score of 922, two strokes behind 10th place North Dakota State and three ahead of 12th place Southern Utah.

Sophomore Julie Lucio was the highest placing Vaquero in 25th with a three-round score of 224 shooting a 74 on day one, 76 and 74 on day two.

Men’s Soccer (2-0-1, 2-0-1)

Friday evening 3-1 victory vs. Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah

The Vaqueros picked up their second road win of the season as senior forward William Akio notched his first two goals of the year in the 32nd minute on an assist from junior forwards Jan Engels and Moiad Ankir and in the 34th minute finishing a PK.

The remaining goal was courtesy of junior forward Reshaun Walkes in the 25th minute on an Ankir feed.

Women’s Soccer (4-3-2, 1-3-1)

Thursday night 1-3 defeat vs. Utah Valley University

After trailing the majority of the first half, the Vaqueros were able to even up the game a one on a junior defender Kryssie Rivera goal, the first of her career, on a corner assist from Libby Beilfuss.

The Wolverines responded in the second half, finding the back of the net in the 68th and 77th minute to gain a 3-1 lead which was too much for the Vaqueros to overcome.

Saturday afternoon 0-1 defeat vs. Utah Valley University

In a quick turnaround with one day rest, the Vaqueros dropped their season series against the Wolverines after allowing a 46th minute goal.

The Vaqueros on the day were out shot 8-18 and 2-10 on goal.

Men’s Tennis (3-9)

Monday morning match vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas

The Vaqueros matchday was canceled due to heavy rain predicted in the forecast, according to a news release for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on Feb. 28.

Monday afternoon vs. Concordia in Belton, Texas

The second match of the Monday doubleheader for the Vaqueros was canceled due to heavy rain predicted in the forecast.

Friday afternoon 3-4 defeat vs. Abilene Christian

In the closest match of the season thus far, the Vaqueros lost the opening point in doubles despite junior Carlo Izurieta and sophomore Samuel de Felipe Garcia earning a 6-2 victory on court No. 2 against sophomore Oswaldo Cano and senior Joaquin Delgado.

In singles, the Vaqueros took wins with Izurieta, freshman Luka Jankovic and junior Zane Kohrs on courts two, three and five, respectively, but fell on court No. 1, 4 and 6.

Women’s Tennis (1-7)

Monday morning vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas

The Vaqueros matchday was canceled due to heavy rain predicted in the forecast according to a news release for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Feb. 28.

Monday afternoon vs. Concordia in Belton, Texas

The second match of the Monday doubleheader for the Vaqueros matchday was cancelled due to heavy rain predicted in the forecast.

Men’s Track and Field

2nd place finish out of 8 at the Longhorn Invitation in Austin

In the first meet of the season, the Vaqueros finished in second place with a team score of 89, finishing behind host UT with 191 points and 12 points ahead of third place Rice.

The Vaqueros also topped a quartet of Big12 opponents in Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Among the many events, UTRGV was highlighted in the 4×400-Meter Relay with a first-place finish by juniors Mario Hernandez and Max Carmona, freshman Jermarrion Stewart and graduate Yariel Matute with a time of 3:19:41.

In the Long Jump event, junior Harry Barthelemy finished in third place with a distance of 7.48m, second best distance in program history.

The Vaqueros also placed in third and fourth with senior Christian Hall-Gardner and graduate Paul May in the Discus Throw with distances of 49.73m, fifth-best in program history, and 49.19m, sixth-best in program record, respectively.

Freshman Michael Campbell and May placed third and fourth in the Shot Put event with distances of 16.57m, third-best in program history, and 16.55m, fourth-best in program history, respectively.

Women’s Track and Field

4th place finish out of 10 at the Longhorn Invitation in Austin

In the first meet of the season, the Vaqueros finished in fourth place with a team score of 68, finishing 23 points behind third place SMU and 35 points ahead of fifth place Baylor.

The Vaqueros also topped a quartet of Big12 opponents with aforementioned Baylor, Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma State.

In the many events of the day, UTRGV finished in first place in the 4×400-Meter relay with sophomore Tamara Woodley, junior Natalie Garza, freshman Josefine Eriksen and sophomore Diamond Lilly with a time of 3:50:73, eight-best in program history.

Woodley and Eriksen finished in second with a time of 54:49 and third with a time of 54:80, respectively, in the 400-Meter Dash. Both were sixth and eighth-best times in program history.

Graduate Desirea Buerge placed second in the Discus Throw event with a distance of 52.17m, third best in program history.

The Vaqueros team of graduate Idatonye Cheetham-West, junior Zarrey Sams, sophomore Mystique Brown and Lilly, finished in second place in the 4×100-Meter Relay with a time of 47:46, fourth best in program history.

Volleyball (1-9, 1-7)

Monday night 3-0 victory vs. California Baptist University

The Vaqueros earned their first win of the season, coming back from down 3-10 in the third set to sweep the Lancers.

Three Vaqueros earned double-doubles with graduate setter Mackenzie Coats’ 34 assists and 11 digs; senior outside hitter Samaret Caraballo’s 10 kills and 14 digs; and sophomore outside hitter Victoire Nama’s 13 kills and 10 digs.