Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) baseball team clinched a series victory over the University of Rhode Island (URI) by winning game two of a doubleheader 9-5 on Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
UTRGV (8-3) has now won the first three games of this four-game series and six in a row overall.
Four UTRGV hitters had two hits, led by freshman Vela alum Aaron Galvan, who went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Galvan is now 7-for-12 with four doubles, a triple and eight RBI in the series.
Freshman Jacob Floreswent 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Senior Andy Atwoodwent 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Junior Tyler Torresfinished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
UTRGV did all the damage over the first five innings against Nick Robinson(0-3). Galvan hit a two-run single in the first. Senior Anthony Gomezwas plunked with the bases loaded to force-in a run in the second and junior Conrado Diazfollowed with a run-scoring single. Junior Elijah Alexanderhit an RBI-single in the third.
Then, with the score 5-2 in the fifth, junior Christian Sepulvedahit an RBI-double, and with two outs, Torres hit an RBI-single, Flores hit an RBI-triple, and Atwood hit an RBI-single put UTRGV up 9-2.
That made a winner of junior Kevin Palm(2-0), who pitched 2.1 innings of relief, retiring the first six batters he faced, striking out two.
Senior Nikki Rowe alum Ryan Jacksonrecorded the final 11 outs for his third save of the season and the 10thof his career, tying fellow Nikki Rowe alum Andrew Padron(2014-17) and Guadalupe Barrera(2010-13) for fourth most in program history.
URI (2-8) scored twice in the fifth on an RBI-single by Jackson Couttsand a sacrifice fly by John Cristino.
URI plated two more runs in the sixth on an RBI-double by Max Mircovichand an RBI-single by Coutts.
The final run came in the eighth on an Austin Whitedouble.
UTRGV and Rhode Island wrap up this four-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m. The game features the Strike Out Hunger promotion. Fans donating five non-perishable food items at every Sunday home game receive free general admission. Donations benefit the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. Gates open at 11 a.m.
