Vaqueros flex their muscles at home

UTRGV dominates to pull even in WAC

_{Redshirt junior infielder Isaac Lopez swings during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros defeated UT Arlington 8-2. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER}

The UTRGV Vaqueros’ (15-12, 5-5 Western Athletic Conference) offense stayed hot, and the pitching performed well to defeat the UT Arlington Mavericks (13-17, 8-5 WAC) 8-2 tonight at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.

The Vaqueros’ offense, coming off a road trip where they scored 38 runs in four games, remained on a tear in their return to the Rio Grande Valley.

They tallied 11 hits, including two home runs by junior first baseman Martin Vazquez (3-4, 2 home runs, 3 RBI) and one by junior catcher Steven Lancia (3-4, home run, double, RBI).

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock was impressed with the showing the Vaqueros’ offense had at the plate, saying they did an “outstanding job of hitting the ball out of the ballpark.”

Graduate Isaiah Campa (2-0) shoved on the mound for the Vaqueros (15-12, 5-5 WAC), striking out six Mavericks and surrendering only one run on two hits and two walks over 6.1 innings, earning the win.

Campa spoke to the media after the game.

“I was really just believing in myself and trusting my teammates behind me,” he said. “Just make good pitches, believe in our defense.”

Campa added after the news conference, “I just wanna tell my mama ‘I love you.’” 

Matlock described Campa’s start as a “gutsy outing.”

“That’s a big-time start against a great offense that just beat [Texas Christian University] on Tuesday,” he said. “I thought he pitched an outstanding game.”

UTA junior left fielder Ryan Ellis was one of only three Mavericks with hits, going 2-3 with an RBI and a double.

Mavericks senior starter Zach Norris (4-3) was shelled and received the loss after surrendering six runs, four being earned runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings of work.

The Mavericks scored first in the top of the second with an RBI double from junior designated hitter JD Moreno, making it 1-0.

Steven Lancia promptly tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the third, Martin Vazquez gave the Vaqueros a 3-1 lead with a two-run shot.

The Vaqueros put up three more runs against Norris in the bottom of the fourth, forcing him out of the game and extending their lead to 6-1.

Arlington would threaten to score in the top of the seventh, forcing Campa out of the game with one out. 

Senior pitcher and Edinburg native Nico Rodriguez came into the game for the Vaqueros, forcing junior catcher Parker Airhart to ground to the pitcher when he turned the inning-ending double play.

“What an outstanding play,” Matlock said after the game. “That really stopped the momentum of them, and really put us in a good situation to get a win.”

UTRGV extended their lead 8-1 after the stretch, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh by way of another Vazquez blast and an RBI single by junior catcher Julius Ramirez.

In the top of the ninth, Ryan Ellis hit a clutch RBI single to bring the score to 8-2.

The Vaqueros will continue their three-game set against UT Arlington at 6:30 p.m. Saturday before the series finale at noon Sunday.