KINGSVILLE – Junior designated hitter Owen Weaver went two-for-three with a home run and freshman Steven Hooker struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run on second base as the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas beat the West Texas A&M-Buffaloes 4-3 in a Lone Star Conference game at Nolan Ryan Field. 

    The win improved the Hogs’ record to 16-14 overall and 11-10 in Lone Star Conference play.

    The Buffaloes dropped to 7-20 and 4-16 in the LSC.

    "We battled hard," head coach Russell Stockton said. "I’m most proud of that last column out there with no errors. We’ve given some runs up this year and in this game we made them earn everything. That was the difference right there."

    Bobby Gonsoulin picked up the win for A&M-Kingsville going seven innings. He allowed one run with four strikeouts and three walks to take his record up to 2-1.

    Weaver extended his hitting streak to five games and now has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.

    A&M-Kingsville put up three runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Weaver led off the inning with a walk and Taylor Everett doubled down the right field line to put two Hogs in scoring position. With two outs, Lee Venegas came up and singled through the right side to plate Weaver and Everett. Erik Gomez followed Venegas with a single to center toto make it 3-0.

    "I told them before the game ‘Be ready in your first at bat, you never know, your first at bat may be your only RBI situation’," Stockton said. "I was proud of those guys being ready in the second inning."

    In the next half inning, the Buffaloes threatened by loading the bases with only one out. Gonsoulin was then able to strike out Will McLaughlin and force a fly out from Ben Edge to keep West Texas A&M off the scoreboard.

    In the next inning, the Buffaloes had runners on the corners with one out but Gonsoulin again was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout from Kevin Els and a ground out by Jake Parsons to escape the inning with no damage done.

     West Texas A&M was finally able to put up a run in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 3-1.

    In the bottom of the sixth Weaver hit his second home run of the season to left center to make the score 4-1.

    The Buffaloes got two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth and had the tying run on second base with two outs before Hooker then came in and got Edge swinging to end the rally and secure the Javelina win.

    These two teams will continue their series with a doubleheader Friday at Nolan Ryan Field beginning at 3 p.m.