May 27, 2010
UT Pan American rallies to defeat Baseball 6-4 in Great West tournament

Edinburg, Texas (May 26, 2010) - The UT Pan American Broncs scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings and scored twice more in the top of the tenth to earn a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over NYIT this evening in the opening round of the Great West Conference tournament. The Bears continue tournament play as NYIT faces NJIT tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The Broncs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off of NYIT starter, senior Andrew Guarrasi (Long Island City, NY) as Vincent Mejia hit a solo homerun. Guarrasi settled down however and allowed just one run over the next seven innings. The Bears bounced right back and tied the game in the bottom half of the frame on junior Jerry Smith's (Nesconset, NY) RBI groundout. Sophomore Sebastian Grazziani (Whitestone, NY) connected for his ninth homerun of the season in the bottom of the second to give NYIT a 2-1 lead.

NYIT increased their advantage to 4-1 in the seventh as sophomore Ryan Campbell (Bellmore, NY) scored on a balk and senior Greg Gilroy (Nesconset, NY) drew a bases loaded walk. Guarrasi allowed one run in the eighth before senior Mike Roth (Rockville Centre, NY) relieved him for the ninth inning.

In the ninth the Broncs Billy Donaho singled up the middle to drive in Stuart MacInnes and Iradier Hernandez scored on the same play to tie the score at 4-4 as he came around on a throwing error.

UT Pan American grabbed a 6-4 lead with two runs in the top of the 10th as Alex Carnall and Stuart MacInnes scored on a Ryan Vest single, after advancing to third and second respectively on a failed pick-off attempt by Roth.

Gurrassi struck out six and allowed the two runs in eight innings of work. Jerry Smith led the Bears offense, picking up two hits.