Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros baseball team completed the three-game sweep of the Houston Christian University Huskies by winning 10-4 on Sunday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in front of a crowd of 1,061.
Graduate student Montclair Cain led the Vaqueros (3-0) by going 3-for-4 with a career-high tying two doubles, a walk and three RBI. Graduate student Vela alum RJ Ochoawent 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and one run scored. Senior Zerek Saenz went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored. Sophomore Vela alum Isaac Lopezfinished 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Saenz set the table immediately, starting the game with a six-pitch walk and scoring on a two-out single by senior Roberto Gonzalez.
In the third, Saenz followed a single by junior Kade York with a single of his own. One out and one error later, Cain drove them in with a two-run single to make the score 3-0.
Senior Colten Davis held the Huskies (0-3) off the board over the first three innings, as after walking the first two batters, Davis set down 10-straight. With one out in the fourth, however, the Huskies put runners at second and third with one out. Dylan LaRue came up with an RBI-single. One out later, Luke Bard tied the game with a two-run single.
The Huskies took a 4-3 lead in the fifth against graduate student Kris Massey on an RBI-double by Parker Edwards. Senior Alex Verdugo (1-0) entered the game and escaped a second and third, one-out jam with a ground out and a strikeout. Verdugo went 2.2 innings, striking out three while allowing one hit for first-career win.
The Vaqueros took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning against Baylor Baumann (0-1). Ochoa started the inning with a walk. Then, after a sacrifice bunt, Saenz singled to put runners on the corners. A double-steal tied the game. One out later, Cain hit an RBI-double to make the score 5-4.
Ochoa added an RBI-single in the sixth to extend the Vaqueros’ lead to 6-4.
In the seventh, the Vaqueros loaded the bases with one out. Juniors Jacob Sanchez and Adrian Torres were plunked to force-in runs. One out later, Ochoa hit a two-run single to put the Vaqueros up 10-4.
Freshman Ruben Gonzalez made his collegiate debut in the eighth, striking out one in a hitless eighth.
Sophomore Bobby Loya struck out one in a hitless ninth to close out the game.
UTRGV opens a five-game series against Central Michigan on $2 Tuesday,2-21-23 at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. General admission tickets are $2 and select concession items will be available for $2 or less. Tickets are on sale now at UTRGVTickets.com. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID. All fans need to follow the clear bag policy, details of which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.
