KINGSVILLE – Javelina freshman pitcher Jeremy Heatley pitched a complete game four-hitter in his first start of the season as the Javelinas beat #12 Abilene Christian in game two after dropping game one 5-3.
The Javelinas are now 23-23 and 6-6 in Lone Star Conference south division play. Abilene Christian is 34-11 and 9-3 in the south division.
After making 19 appearances this year in relief, Heatley, the Hogs’ starting quarterback in 2006, allowed just three runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking three while evening his record at 2-2.
After allowing two runs in the first, Heatley held the potent Wildcat offense to just one run and three hits over the final six innings and retired eight of the final nine hitters he faced.
“I have been gaining innings all season and coach needed me to step in,” Heatley said after the victory. “The whole team rose to the occasion. I just got into the game and just started feeling good.”
Chase Myrick, Joe Hamon and Clay Bockholt (Tuloso-Midway) each picked up three hits in the doubleheader as Myrick extended his hitting streak to seven games.
In game one, Josh Livingston (Corpus Christi Moody) fell to 5-4, allowing eight hits and four runs while walking three and striking out one.
Brian Kennedy picked up the win for the Wildcats to go to 7-2. He allowed seven hits, three runs, walked a batter and picked up a strikeout in 7 1/3 innings.
Jameson Maj got his second save of the series and his 12th overall for Abilene Christian with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The Hogs got on the board first in the bottom of the third when an Abilene Christian error during an attempted double play allowed Will Alexander to score the first run of the game. Another Wildcat error later in the inning gave Clay Bockholt the opportunity to make it a 2-0 Javelina lead.
ACU tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. The Wildcats put runners on the corners and used a double steal attempt to bring Matt McGuire home while Danny Williams was picked off. A pair of two-out hits tied the game as Mike Elkerson knocked in a triple to right-center field and was followed by a Matt Spotanski RBI single through the right side.
Four consecutive hits to start the eighth inning gave the Wildcats the lead. Jordan Schmitt hit a double into center field on the very first pitch of the inning and scored the go-ahead run on a Trey Watten single through the right side. McGuire then hit a double into left-center field that brought in Alec Sowards and Watten to give Abilene Christian a 5-2 lead.
The Javelinas cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning. Bockholt led off the inning with a double into left-center field, took third base on a Javier Molina flyout to right field, then came home on a Joe Hamon hit into center field.
In game two, ACU started the game with a two-run lead.
Matt Spotanski lead off with a single through to right field. J.J Pacheco walked on first. Two wild pitches allowed Spotanski to score and moved Pacheco to second. Wildcats placed runners on the corners by moving Pacheco to third off a sac bunt, and Alec Sowards then walked on first. Double steal sent Pacheco in for a run and gave ACU a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Javelinas tied the game, filling the bases with three walks, one hit-by-pitch, and one hit. Justin Ariki was walked on and then advanced to second on a wild pitch from the catcher trying to pick him off at first. Chase Myrick got first base on balls. Clay Bockholt hit a two-hit RBI single between the second and first basemen that sent Ariki home. Javelinas loaded the bases, and Joe Hamon got a hit-by-pitch RBI that scored Myrick and tied the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Javelinas rallied back to take the lead, totaling four hits and three runs. Tom Mass started the rally with a single hit past the short stop. Trey Karlen walked on base and a sac bunt by Will Alexander put Karlen and Mass in scoring position. Both runners plated by Ariki’s single down the right line to give the Javelinas the lead. Bases loaded after Ariki, Myrick, and Bockholt all hit singles. Javier Molina hit in Ariki with a SAC fly giving the Javelinas 5-2 advantage.
In the fifth inning, ACU shortened the Javelina lead to 5-3. Travis Catalani and Mike Elkerson both singled, and a SAC bunt by Matt Spotanski put them in scoring position. Catalani scored from a fly to right field by J.J. Pacheco.
Javelinas respond in the bottom of the inning by extending their lead to 7-4. The Hogs had bases loaded after a fielding error sent Taylor Everett to first and two walked batters filled the diamond. Javelinas pulled ahead by four, after Chase Myrick singled to right field bringing in Everett and Mass.
The Javelinas continue their home stand with a doubleheader Friday against the Angelo State Rams beginning at 3 p.m.
