KINGSVILLE – After three one-run games to start the series, the Texas A&M-Kingsville offense left no doubt about the outcome of game four as the Javelinas ripped the Buffaloes 13-3 in a run-rule shortened game. Click here for boxscore.
It was the Javelinas’ sixth consecutive victory, their first four-game conference sweep in a year and improved their record to 19-14 overall and 14-10 in the Lone Star Conference.
The Hogs out-hit the Buffaloes 13-5, five Javelina batters had at least two hits apiece and Erik Gomez lead the team with four runs batted in.
“We scored early and had a few big innings,” head coach Russell Stockton said. “We had a better plan today of going up there and looking for our pitch.”
Sam Strickland pitched a complete game to improve to 5-2 on the season. He allowed no earned runs while striking out seven and walking two. It was his third consecutive complete game victory, all in conference play. He has allowed only three earned runs in his last 23 innings pitched for a 1.17 earned run average.
“We had great starting pitching from Sam,” Stockton said. “The momentum was on our side from the very first pitch.”
The Javelinas jumped out to an early lead behind a three-run first inning. James Brown (Corpus Christi King) knocked in a single to left field and Joe Hamon wasted no time in bringing him in on a double to left center field. Taylor Everett then hit a two-out single that scored Hamon and Owen Weaver to put the Hogs up 3-0.
The Javelinas kept the momentum up in the second inning. Lee Venegas led off the inning with a triple down the right field line that rolled all the way to the outfield wall. Gomez then brought Venegas home on a single to left center field to expand the Javelina lead to 4-0.
A&M-Kingsville added to their lead with four runs in the fifth inning. Hamon doubled again, this one down the left field line, Weaver followed up with a single to right field and Miller walked to load the bases with only one out. Everett took advantage of the RBI opportunity and hit a single through the right side to score Hamon and put the Hogs up 5-0. Wiley Crowson hit a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Weaver and made it 6-0. Gomez capped the rally with a single to right field that brought in Everett and Thomas Miller for the 8-0 lead.
The Buffaloes broke through in the top of the sixth inning with three unearned runs to make it 8-3.
The Hogs ended the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs on only three hits. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, Gomez then drew a bases loaded walk and Chase Myrick was hit by a pitch to make it 10-3. Brown then hit an infield single that plated Venegas and Gomez came home on a wild pitch to make 12-3. Weaver then singled through the left side to score Myrick and end the game.
The Javelinas will continue their nine-game home stand with a four-game Lone Star Conference series against the Northeastern (Okla.) State RiverHawks beginning Friday at 5 p.m. at Nolan Ryan Field.
