UTRGV Baseball Makes History with First National TV Broadcast Win

Vaqueros defeat Southeastern 8-6 in front of sellout crowd of 6,473 at UTRGV Baseball Stadium

Reyes Castillo Jr

Apr 19, 2026

EDINBURG — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team made history Friday night, defeating the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 8-6 in the first home game ever televised on a linear national network in the department's history.

The game, broadcast on ESPNU to approximately 36 million households nationwide, drew a sellout crowd of 6,473 fans to UTRGV Baseball Stadium — the third-largest attendance in program history.

"Wow, look at this," UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said, pointing to the crowd after the game. "This is the highest level of college baseball. It's unbelievable support from the Rio Grande Valley. We're so thankful for their support. This is the real deal."

A Back-and-Forth Battle

The Vaqueros (17-20, 11-11 SLC) trailed 6-5 entering the seventh inning, but a dramatic rally sealed the victory. After Diego Villescas singled and moved to second on a bobble in center field, Rene Galvan singled to tie the game. Two pitches later, Hank Warren launched his first home run of the season 380 feet onto West Vaqueros Drive beyond the left field wall, putting UTRGV up 8-6.

Graduate student Colton Vercoe pitched 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out five, to close out the game and earn the win. Sergio Lopez started the game, striking out seven without walking anyone over the first 6.0 innings.

956 Night Celebration

The historic broadcast featured the ESPNU crew taste-testing local favorites like elote and street tacos during innings, highlighting the unique culture of the Rio Grande Valley. The game was part of "956 Night," celebrating the area code that represents the region.

"Coming out tomorrow, we need it again because it's been a rough couple of months, but man, that's three in-a-row," Matlock said. "We're starting to play a little better and look like the Vaqueros."

The victory gave UTRGV a 1-0 lead in the three-game Southland Conference series against the Lions (23-16, 12-7 SLC), who shared the conference championship with the Vaqueros in 2025.

Photo by Joel Martinez / RGVSports.com

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Currently in the Rio Grande Valley: Partly cloudy with highs in the mid-80s. Perfect weather for baseball! Check the full forecast at KRGV Weather.

💬 Valley Voice

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."