UTRGV baseball games underway

Karina Rodriguez | THE RIDER

Now that the UTRGV Baseball Team has already started its season, spectators can support them in person. 

The team played over Spring Break against Dixie State University. Results were not available at press time.  

As of March 7, the Vaqueros’ record stood at 7-4. They were scheduled to start conference play against Grand Canyon University on March 12 in Phoenix.  

Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque explained what spectators can expect at UTRGV baseball games. 

“We’re at 1,000 fans [allowed] into the stadium, but it is worth noting we have a very large, great baseball stadium,” Conque said. “So, it seats 5,000, and so, it gives us [the] great opportunity, especially being outdoors, to space out [the spectators], just like we’ve done with basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. We’ve got seat markers that certainly respect social distancing.”

Conque also said masks and touchless interactions are needed at the games.

“We’ve invested in additional staffing, auditors and other folks there to help manage the crowd,” he said. “[We] also remind folks to mask up and social distance. We’re cashless [and] touchless. So when you purchase your tickets in advance, those things are sent out automatically. We are touchless and cashless at the ticket office and the same way with our concessions.” 

Conque also explained how spectators can get access to tickets to the games.

“So, students are always free,” he said. “So, we do have a limited number of student tickets, and by showing their ID at the gate, they can be admitted into the stadium. Fans can go online to goutrgv.com and purchase tickets on our ticket portal. Obviously, we have season ticket holders that are part of that 1,000 [fans] and then any remaining tickets that aren’t pre-sold, you can buy at the box office at the front entrance.” 

UTRGV infielder Christian Sepulveda said the team has been working hard each time they play. 

“Just every day we go out there, and we work, and we get better all together,” Sepulveda said. “We all just try to help each other and become the best athletes we can and [the] best baseball player we can. So, I feel like we all help each other and I feel like I benefit the team in the same way everyone else does.” 

UTRGV Head Baseball Coach Derek Matlock said he anticipates having challenging games on Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday against Dallas Baptist University. 

“They have the most powerful arms in Texas,” Matlock said. “You could almost say Texas [Austin], TCU, and Texas Tech are with them. But they got big arms [and have] always had them. They’re always top 30 [or] top 25 [and] I think they’ve been in seven [or] eight straight regionals.

“So we’re going to their ballpark to play a really great game, and I’ll be uneasy about it, but we have a pretty good team ourselves.” 

He believes as long as his players work hard, they will do well.

“If our guys, you know, play with some grit and some fight and play hard, we can overcome the difference in talent level,” Matlock said. “Talent level doesn’t always win. It’s about guys that are brought into the process and compete and are coachable and do what they are coached to do. … If we play good, we’ll win. If we don’t play good, it doesn’t matter who we play, we will lose.”