Stephenville – Freshman Mario Gonzalez (Premont) picked up his second consecutive win as a starter as the Javelinas beat Tarleton State 7-6 Sunday night to earn a split of a doubleheader.
The Texans won the opener 14-6.
The split leaves the Javelinas at 22-19 overall and 5-3 in the Lone Star Conference South Division, one game behind first place Abilene Christian. Tarleton State is now 21-22 and 3-5.
Gonzalez improved to 3-4 by pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking six.
Jeremy Heatley came on with one out and runners at second and third in the bottom of the seventh and earned his team-leading fourth save by allowing only a sacrifice fly.
Javelina catcher Cy Williams ended the game by throwing out Jason Holmes while he was attempting to steal third base.
Clay Bockholt (Tuloso-Midway) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He has now hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.
The Javelinas scored two in the first on consecutive doubles by Chase Myrick and Bockholt and a run scoring ground out by Taylor Everett.
But the Texans scored three in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
But the Hogs got a single run in the second on a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Javier Molina, a single run in the third on an RBI squeeze bunt by Will Alexander and another single run in the fourth when Trey Karlen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Texans tied the game at 5-5 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Hogs took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Williams and an RBI sacrifice fly by Justin Ariki.
In the opener, Javelina pitching was rocked for 17 hits, 12 earned runs and three home runs.
Joe Hamon and Ariki each had a pair of hits for the Hogs while Williams drove in a pair of runs.
The Javelinas take on Texas A&M-International in Laredo Tuesday at 12 noon.
