UTRGV Athletics Week in Review: April 19 – 25

UTRGV Athletics Week in Review: April 19 – 25
All images copyright ©Juan DeLeon Creative
Vaquero graduate Paul May throws the discus at the Victor Lopez Classic in Houston on March 27. PHOTO BY JUAN DELEON

Baseball (21-17, 12-8)

  • Tuesday night eight inning 14-4 victory vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi

After 405 days from their last matchup, the Vaqueros once again come out victorious over the Islanders. 

Graduate center fielder Coleman Grubbs led the way offensively for the Vaqueros with five at-bats that produced three hits, one run and three RBI. 

It was a bullpen game for the pitching staff and freshman starter Zack Tjelmeland, who has thrown 7.1 innings in relief this season, earned his first collegiate win by throwing 2.1 frames allowing two runs on three hits and striking out four.

  • Friday night 11-4 victory vs. Seattle U 

The Vaquero’s offense remained hot as they put up runs in every inning from the third to the seventh to down the Redhawks

Graduate second baseman Andy Atwood belted a solo home run in the sixth inning, en route to a three hit, two run, two RBI and one walk night. 

On the mound, ace senior pitcher Kevin Stevens picked up his fourth win of the season going six frames and striking out six only allowing one run. 

UTRGV Head Coach Derek Matlock announced graduate catcher and third baseman Conrado Diaz will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his thumb. His replacement, sophomore Carson Letterman had two RBIs on the night despite having a defensive error. 

  • Saturday afternoon seven inning 13-0 victory vs. Seattle U 

The Vaqueros put up runs early and often, scoring six in the first, four in the second and one in the third. 

Graduate center fielder Coleman Grubbs and junior DH Freddy Rojas Jr. belted home runs in the first and second inning, respectively.

On the mound, graduate Kevin Palm threw five innings only allowing three hits and at one point retired nine straight Redhawks. 

The Vaqueros shut out an opponent for the first time since their 2-0 victory over PAC-12 foe Washington on March 1. 

  • Saturday evening extra inning 5-4 victory vs. Seattle U 

The Vaqueros would walk it off in the 10th inning on a bases loaded senior PH/RF Jacob Hirst infielder’s choice that scored graduate second baseman Andy Atwood on a Redhawk throwing error.

Freshman right fielder Spencer Serven and junior first baseman Angel De La Cruz would homer in the game with shots in the second and eighth, respectively. 

Senior close Chase Bridges picked up his fifth win of the season coming on in relief, tossing 2.2 innings allowing one hit. 

The Vaqueros improved to a five-game winning streak after dropping eight of their previous 10 beforehand.

  • Sunday morning 6-5 victory vs. Seattle U

The Vaqueros won in walkoff fashion in a second straight outing, as graduate second baseman Andy Atwood delivered a RBI-bunt down the third base line that scored junior DH Freddy Rojas Jr.

Atwood would finish the day going 4-5 with a solo homerun in the fifth to go along with three RBI and one run.

The winning pitcher was junior closer Ricky Gerik Jr. who stepped on the mound in the ninth and struckout the side to keep the score at five. 

With the second series sweep of the season, the first coming against Northern Illinois from March 5-7, the winning streak extends to six for the Vaqueuros.

Women’s Golf 

  • 5th place finish out of five at the WAC Championships in Boulder City, Nevada

In the, now, final outing of the season the Vaqueros posted a team score of 921 for fifth place in the WAC Championships, 12 strokes behind fourth place Utah Valley University. 

Freshman Samantha Garza led the way for the Vaqueros with a top-10 finish, tied for eighth, shooting 221 at the 72-par course. 

The second highest placing Vaqueros was freshman Mercedes Vega who shot 76, 77 and 79 to tie for 19th. 

Sophomore Julie Lucio and senior Rachel Yu would both tie for 29th with a score of 236. 

Rounding out the team was freshman Sophia Tejeda shooting a 241 over three days to finish in 34th.

Men’s Track and Field 

  • One first, one second and two third place finishes at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight in Houston 

Junior Max Carmona placed atop the podium in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.26. 

In throws, graduate Paul May placed second in the shot put with a toss of 18.01 meters and third in the discus with a lunch of 55.84 meters, second-best mark and a new program record, respectively. 

In the 5,000-meter run, Abraham Chirchir set the fifth best mark in program history with a time of 14:32.71 for third place. 

The Vaqueros would defeat Texas A&M Corpus Christi in the South Texas Showdown 89-55. 

Women’s Track and Field

  • One first, one second and one third place finish at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight in Houston

Graduate Desira Buerge continues her discus prowess placing first with a launch of 57.51 meters, second best mark in program history only behind her 58.90 meter throw last week at the Roadrunner Invitational. 

In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Tamara Woodley placed in second with a time of 54.28, the fourth best mark in program history. 

Alexandrea Hurst set the eighth best mark in program history in the shot put event with a toss of 15.31 meters, good for third place. 

Although close, the Vaqueros would take down Texas A&M Corpus Christi 80-70 in the South Texas Showdown.

 
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