UTRGV REPORTS
UTRGV pitcher Kevin Stevens struck out seven batters to move into ninth place in program history in strikeouts, while leading the UTRGV baseball team past the Tarleton Texans 8-2 on Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
Stevens (6-2) now has 197 career strikeouts, passing UTRGV Hall of Famer Tommy Sandoval (193, 1967-70), Mando Reyes (194,1976-77), Sam Street (195, 2013-14), and Ryan Jackson (195, 2015-19) on the all-time list. Next up is Danny Kennedy (198,1986-88).
Steven pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits and four walks.
Stevens also got a little help from his defense, as with runners on the corners and one out during the second, Cody Vannoy flied out to right and Freddy Rojas Jr. threw out Carter Dobrinski at the plate for an inning-ending double play.
The Vaqueros (24-18, 10-9 WAC) broke through with three runs against Bryce Hackett (2-6) during the second. Brett Cain led off the inning with a single and then sophomore PSJA High alum Jacob Sanchez drew an eight-pitch walk. After a Rojas single loaded the bases, junior Chris Mondesi and freshman Edinburg Vela alum Isaac Lopez hit back-to-back ground balls to short for run-scoring fielder’s choices. Cameron Blake followed with a single to left that hit off the glove of Kemuel Thomas-Rivera, allowing Lopez to score.
The Vaqueros added two more during the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by Bryan Sturges and Cain to make the score 5-1.
Ricky Gerik Jr. pitched the final three innings, striking out three, for his sixth save.
UTRGV is back in action with Game 2 against Tarleton at 6 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
