Wiatrek dazzles, offense feasts on opening day

Vaqueros win season opener 8-4 over SIU

Junior pitcher Wyatt Wiatrek had a stellar outing in relief while the Vaqueros offense exploded for eight runs to lift the UTRGV Baseball Team past the Southern Illinois Salukis 8-4 Friday in front of a crowd of 3,937.

Sophomore infielder Easton Moomau slides back to first base and avoids a tag out by Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros defeated Southern Illinois University 8-4.
Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — Sophomore infielder Easton Moomau slides back to first base and avoids a tag out by Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros defeated Southern Illinois University 8-4.
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

At the dish, the top of the Vaqueros order shined. Redshirt junior second baseman Thomas Williams (2-4, double) and sophomore third baseman Easton Moomau (2-4, 3 RBI) set the tone, with Moomau tying the game in the sixth on a bloop 2-RBI single, starting a 4-run rally.

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock commended both his offense and Wiatrek after the game, saying he was “really proud of the guys” for winning a “dogfight.”

“We got to get good at being in dogfights,” Matlock said. “The whole secret to the game was Wyatt Wiatrek. … He just pushed the zeros on them and they couldn’t do anything against him. [He] gave us time to get some offense going.”

Redshirt senior utility Erick Martinez gets thrown out by Southern Illinois redshirt junior infielder Tim Simay during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — *Redshirt senior utility Erick Martinez gets thrown out by Southern Illinois redshirt junior infielder Tim Simay during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.*
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

Wiatrek (1-0) came into the game in the fourth inning, earning the win after pitching five scoreless innings while striking out six Salukis, allowing only one baserunner via a hit by pitch.

He said he expected pitching an extended outing going into this game, piggybacking off of senior starting pitcher Angelo Cabral (3.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 SO) who made his first start after returning from injury tonight, but that he took it “one pitch at a time.”

“I think my fastball and [splitter] worked really good tonight,” Wiatrek said. “I was ready to go in there and be there for a while.”

Southern Illinois sophomore starter Jordan Huskey (0-1) looked good for five innings before getting pulled in the sixth, where the runners he left came around to score. He takes the loss tonight (5.0 IP, 6 R, 4 ER).

Southern Illinois redshirt junior infielder Tim Simay (right) throws the ball to junior infielder Gabe Petrucelli during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — *Southern Illinois redshirt junior infielder Tim Simay (right) throws the ball to junior infielder Gabe Petrucelli during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.*
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

The Salukis got on the board in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by senior left fielder Michael Mylott, with senior catcher Mason Schwalback scoring the opening run of the game.

The Vaqueros promptly responded in the bottom of the second, with redshirt sophomore designated hitter Armani Raygoza stealing home to tie the game and senior shortstop Erick Martinez giving them a 2-1 lead on an RBI single.

SIU regained the lead in the top of the third on a 2-RBI double by Myloft, and extended it 4-2 on an error in left field by UTRGV freshman left fielder Cameron Carter.

Sophomore infielder Easton Moomau (right) throws the ball to graduate infielder Jacob Sanchez during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — *Sophomore infielder Easton Moomau (right) throws the ball to graduate infielder Jacob Sanchez during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.*
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

After three scoreless frames by Huskey and Wiatrek, the Vaqueros offense exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Moomau drove in an insurance run with an RBI single, his third RBI of the day, to make it 7-4 UTRGV.

Senior catcher Steven Lancia avoids a force out by Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — *Senior catcher Steven Lancia avoids a force out by Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.*
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

Redshirt junior center fielder Damien Whitfield added another run with an RBI single, his first as a Vaquero, to extend it 8-4 in the bottom of the eighth.

Junior right-handed reliever Steven Oliva, in his first collegiate pitching appearance, came into the game in the top of the ninth and slammed the door, sealing an 8-4 season-opening victory for UTRGV.

Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton swings during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER — *Southern Illinois senior infielder Cecil Lofton swings during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.*
**Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER**

The Vaqueros will continue the series tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. as part of a UTRGV Athletics triple-header, with women’s and men’s basketball playing at the Fieldhouse at 2 and 4:30 p.m. respectively.

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