Vaqueros get second straight win against UNO
EDINBURG — It was getting a bit tense here during the bottom of the third until UTRGV's Julius Ramirez cracked at a pitch that sent the ball flying for a homer. It was loud enough that those on the outskirts of the stadium could hear it — either out in the parking lot or in the neighborhoods.
That was one of the sequences during a Southland Conference game between the hometown UTRGV Vaqueros (7-8, 2-3) and the visiting University of New Orleans Privateers (6-9, 1-4) on Saturday. The second game in a three-game series, the home ball club took the win, 8-6.
The night before, they blanked UNO by the score of 10 to zip — leading the series, 2-0.
Ramirez, who is a local product from the Valley — more specifically, PSJA High School — said it was a great feeling delivering a notable performance in front of the home crowd.
"Aw, man it feels awesome," he said. "All the support we get from the fans here in the Valley, being from the Valley, it's awesome."
The former PSJA Bear had a career high 4 RBI against the Privateers.
The bats were still hot from the night before as UTRGV had themselves another great night of hits with 11 — in the first game of the series, they had themselves 12.
In terms of pitching, UNO had themselves a couple of changes, with their first being at the bottom of the fourth. For UTRGV, Harrison Thayer had an impressive fifth inning retiring all three batters who came up to the plate.
The first being a strikeout on Kruise Newman, then Thayer made a leaping catch in front of the pithcer's mound for the second out, and then finally he struck out Kareh Valentin to bring it to the sixth.
Thayer (3-1) struck out six batters in six innings of play off of 86 pitches.
UTRGV was up 5-1 at the top of the seventh, but UNO had themselves some fight in them.
Newman homered one to deep right field for 3 RBI and to bring it within one score.
With momentum on the blue squad's side, near the dugout you can hear the players hyping each other up.
"We're in the game," one of the players could be heard saying through the silence from the UTRGV fans as the score was 5-4.
At the bottom of the seventh, a single by Hank Warren earned him an RBI — then in the bottom of the 8th, an error by UNO allowed for another run for the Vaqueros.
But once again, UNO showed some fight again as they were down 8-4 at the top of the ninth. Newman, hit his second homer of the night for 2 RBI, to bring it within two runs.
After a team huddle, closer Kike Cienfuegos had two strikouts to retire the Privateers.
Head Coach Derek Matlock said UNO had distinguishing differences in batting from Friday night to Saturday night.
"What a good job (UNO) did at fighting back and hitting homers to get back in the game," Matlock said. "It's really funny how, (Friday) night, we commanded our fastball so well, and made them look like they just can't hit. We (struck them out) 13 times. Then you get in there and throw the ball middle of the plate, you're like, 'Woah, these guys can hit.'"
Matlock said ahead of Sunday's game that the team has to really command their fastballs and fine-tune their pitching.
"We got to be ready to go to work," the coach said.
UTRGV lost the series' finale on Sunday, 13-6. The Vaqueros are now 7-9 overall and 2-4 in SLC play.
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