Standout performances by the UT Pan American pitching staff led to a twin bill sweep over the NYIT Bears Saturday afternoon at Edinburg Baseball Stadium as Texas-Pan American shut out NYIT 9-0 in Game 1 and won 14-2 in Game 2. The Bears close out the regular season with a 24-18-2 record, adn 15-13 in the Great West Conferece. NYIT earned the third seed in the GWC tournament, which begins on May 26 and is hosted by UT Pan American.

 

UTPA 9, NYIT 0
Texas-Pan American shut out an opponent for the second time this season with a 9-0 victory in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

 

Kyle Kotchie (3-6) gave up one hit in 26 batters faced and notched his third win of the season. Kotchie gave up his only run in the fourth on a Jerry Smith double. The southpaw fanned nine, but walked seven in six innings of work on the hill.

In his last inning of the game, Kotchie loaded the bases placing Effrey Valdez, Christian Dienna, and Jerry Smith in a scoring situation. Kotchie then struck out the side retiring the side.

 

The Broncs started off strong with six runs in the first two frames of the contest and extended their lead to 8-0 in the fifth and closed out with a lone run in the eighth. NYIT's starting pitcher Louie Bernardi (0-3) gave up the Broncs first six runs and was tagged with the loss in 1 2/3 innings of work.

 

 

UTPA 14, NYIT 2
With a successful Game 1, the Broncs continued with the momentum as they posted nine runs in the first two frames of Game 2.

 

In his sixth start of the season, Luis Flores pitched eight innings, fanned four and only walked one in 28 batters faced. Flores (4-1) picked up his fourth win of the season.

 

Vincent Mejia hit his second home run of the day, eighth for the season, in the bottom of the sixth on a 2-1 count. Mejia scored the Broncs only run in the sixth and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs, a double, and a home run.

Timely hitting by the Broncs caused the NYIT Bears to make numerous calls to the bullpen. Starting pitcher Tom Cardona saw 1 2/3 innings of action and was tagged with the loss (2-6). Cardona gave up seven runs on six hits and walked two.

The Broncs have won five of their last seven games and enter the 2010 Great West Conference Tournament on a three-game winning streak.