Southern Utah Shutout 1-0 at Texas-Pan American
EDINBURG, Texas. –Feb. 24 – The Thunderbirds were only able to muster three hits in a 1-0 loss at Texas-Pan American Friday night. Southern Utah got a strong outing from starter Kelsey Outram who gave up just four hits while striking out five through six scoreless innings before surrendering a run in the bottom of the seventh. The junior pitcher has thrown two complete games in both his starts this season, but is now 0-2 on the year.
UTPA starter Bryan Maxwell struck out seven while allowing only two hits before being relieved by Zach Zouzalik in top of the sixth. The senior reliever shut out the Thunderbirds over the final three innings to pick up the win. Jonathon Spa came on for the Broncs in the ninth for the save.
The lone run of the game came in the seventh after Bronco first baseman Roger Bernal led off the frame with a single to right and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Outram got Vincent Mejia to pop up to right for the second out but a wild pitch during the next at bat would allow Bernal to reach third. He would come around to score after Angel Ibanez hit an RBI single to left side to give UTPA a 1-0 advantage.
The Thunderbirds had several base runners early in the game, but didn’t record their first hit until the seventh inning. Mitchell Kauweloa led off the frame for SUU with a single to right, but was forced out as Kevin Kline grounded into a double play. Justin Neuhart also came up with a hit in the inning, but Tyson Weber grounded out to third to end the frame.
Kaueweloa, Neuhart and Chase Rezac would be the only Thunderbirds to record a hit in the game. Derek Hagey went 2-4 for the Broncos while bernal was 3-4 at the plate and recorded the game’s only run. Ibanez picked up the RBI with his only hit of the night.
Southern Utah suffer its third one-run loss of the season to fall to 0-4 on the year while UTPA improves to 2-0. The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (MST)
