UPR-Bayamon, UPR-Rio Piedras
set NCAA II records in 30-28 marathon
St. GEORGE, UT - When the
University of Puerto Rico Bayamon and the University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras met in the losers' bracket of the Pacific West
Conference Little World Series on Friday afternoon in St. George,
UT, the Vaqueros and Gallistos knew they were playing for bragging
rights of their homeland.
But they didn't expect to play a game that lasted more than five
hours, produced a combined 58 runs, and inserted new entries into
the NCAA Division II Baseball Record Book.
UPR-Bayamon scored nine runs in the top of the ninth before
fending off another furious UPR-Rio Piedras' rally in the bottom of
the inning to win the slugfest 30-28.
The Gallistos left the bases loaded.
The PacWest Little World Series is a four-day tournament
bringing six NCAA Division II independent programs to Dixie State
College of Utah for a chance to win a post-season championship.
UPR-Bayamon, UPR-Rio Piedras and UPR- Mayaguez are three NCAA II
independent programs from Puerto Rico, while Hawaii Pacific, Grand
Canyon and Dixie State compete in the PacWest but are technically
considered independent by the NCAA. The PacWest consists of four
teams this year, with a fifth joining the conference in 2010, but
the NCAA officially recognizes leagues that have six programs
competing in a sport.
While Division II teams around the nation are battling in their
league tournaments, the six programs that converged on St. George,
UT, have been given an opportunity to win a title.
But no one could have predicted a 58-run outburst that pushed
the start of the night game back two hours.
Consider the following NCAA Division II marks:
- UPR-Rio Piedras set a record for runs scored by a losing team.
- The combined 58 runs scored was the second-highest total in
Division II history, and the most scored by two Division II schools
(the record of 71 runs featured Division II St. Francis (Ill.) and
non-Division II Robert Morris of Illinois on April 2, 1996).
- The combined 49 base hits tied the mark for the second most in
a game.
- The combined 44 RBI tied the mark for the fifth most in a game.
- The combined 14 doubles tied the mark for the fourth most in a
game.
- The 138 total plate appearances tied the record for the eighth
most in a contest.
But NCAA II records weren't the only ERA-busting statistics to
damage pitchers' arms and egos. Fifteen different players took the
mound in the nine-inning affair, while the line scores resembled
something from a football game.
UPR-Bayamon scored its 30 runs on 28 hits while UPR-Rio Piedras
tallied 28 runs on 21. Each team committed seven errors.
With the exception of the number eight, the two teams posted
innings consisting of runs from zero to 10. Rio Piedras scored 10
runs in the sixth and Bayamon exploded for nine in the ninth that
ultimately led to the Vaqueros earning the victory.
And not only did Bayamon win the game with 30 runs, but the
Vaqueros had to retake the field vs. Hawaii Pacific just 40 minutes
after their marathon as they continued through the losers' bracket
of the tournament.
But the game was about more than stats as the two teams -
far from home but as familiar with each other as family - traded
witty good-natured baseball banter back and forth in Spanish. Each
time the lead changed or runs were scored, players spilled out of
the dugout as if a walk-off homer had been hit.
No homers were listed in the cluttered box score.
Bayamon jumped out to a 6-0 lead in top of the first, but Rio
Piedras scored three times in the home first to slice the lead in
half. Neither team scored in the second and third innings, but then
the proverbial floodgates came open as the teams totaled 49 runs
over the final seven innings.
Joshua Berrios paved the way for Bayamon. He went 6 for 7 with
six RBI, two doubles and four runs scored, while Alberto Hernandez
was 5 for 8 with six runs scored and three RBI. Ibran Cruz was 3
for 6 with five RBI and a run. Joseph Negron was 4 for 7 with a
pair of doubles, three RBI and four runs scored.
Cruz produced one of the most amusing and crowd-lifting plays in
the eighth with his team leading 20-19. He dropped a perfectly
place suicide squeeze bunt, sending home Berrios who had smashed a
bases-clearing triple.
Jose Oquendo ripped four base hits for Rio Piedras, going 4 for
7 with three runs scored and three RBI. Angel Cantali went 3 for 6
with four runs and an RBI, while Eric Rosario was 3 for 7 with five
runs scored and a run batted in. Cristopher Torres finished the
game with four RBI and two runs scored.
Bayamon right fielder Luis Santiago - the ninth pitcher of the
game for the Vaqueros - recorded the save as he retired the final
two batters of the contest. Alexander Ortega, who tossed 2/3 of an
inning, earned the victory.
UPR-Rio Piedras will take on UPR-Mayaguez in the consolation
game at 11 a.m. MDT on Saturday morning.