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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team, which has received votes in the USA Today Coaches and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Polls for three consecutive weeks, mounted a late rally but ultimately fell short against the TCU Horned Frogs, losing 4-3 on Tuesday at Lupton Stadium.
The Vaqueros (17-6) trailed 4-1 in the ninth inning with one out when graduate student Jacob Sanchez reached base on an error. Junior Rene Galván followed with a double, and senior Hank Warren hit an RBI groundout. Junior Thomas Williams then hit a double, bringing the Vaqueros within one run. However, TCU’s Gianluca Shinn struck out sophomore Evan Janner to end the game and secure his first save.
Galván finished the game 2-for-4, hitting two doubles for the second consecutive game and scoring twice.
The Vaqueros took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs, Galván doubled off TCU’s Trever Baumler (2-2). Warren followed with a grounder to short, and a throwing error by Anthony Silva allowed Warren to reach first. Silva then tried to throw out Galván at third, but the throw went astray, allowing Galván to score.
Making his first start for the Vaqueros, senior Evan Maldonado (0-1) pitched a hitless first inning. However, in the second, TCU capitalized on walks by Chase Brunson, Nolan Traeger, and Silva to load the bases. Jack Bell followed with a bases-clearing triple, and Karson Bowen added an RBI single, putting the Horned Frogs (18-7) up 4-1.
The Vaqueros bullpen was strong, pitching 7.0 scoreless innings. Junior Nick Nolan entered the game after Bowen’s hit and pitched a career-high 3.0 innings, striking out two. Junior Kike Cienfuegos followed with a career-high 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out four batters.
In the eighth, graduate student Jack Lopez came in with runners on the corners and two outs. TCU attempted a steal, but senior Steven Lancia threw out the runner, marking the second runner caught by Lancia in the game, to end the inning.
UTRGV will look to even the series when they face TCU again on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Game Highlights
- Rene Galván: 2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored
- Nick Nolan: 3.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts
- Kike Cienfuegos: 3.2 IP, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts
Up Next
The Vaqueros will face TCU again on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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