STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS – For the second straight day, the Texas A&M-Kingsville and Tarleton State baseball teams split a Lone Star Conference doubleheader. The Texans (15-18, 12-16) won the first game, 5-3 while the Javelinas (19-16, 15-13) won the second game, 6-2.  (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the Texans scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and were able to make the lead stand up. The Javelinas had the potential tying run come to the plate in the seventh inning, but were unable to bring the batter around.

Freshman Colby Schindler (Hallettsville/Hallettsville HS) pitched a complete game for the Hoggies, but was handed the loss. He allowed 10 hits, three earned runs and two walks in the loss.

The Javs had seven hits in the game. Freshman Ben Villafuerte (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) went 2-for-2 with an RBI and AJ Hecker (Orange/Bay City HS) went 2-for-3 with two runs, a home run and an RBI.

Jake Sowell pitched six strong innings for the Texans to pick up his third win of the season while Nathan Lewis closed out the game by retiring the final three batters to earn his fourth save. Chris Casazza sparked the offense with a two-run homer while Charlie Ulbricht went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.

In the second game, Dan Rogers (Redwood City, CA/Woodside HS) scattered 11 hits and stranded 14 Texan base runners to improve to 5-1 on the season. He allowed just one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

The Javelina offense took advantage of a pair of Texan errors and nine walks to outpace TSU. Clifton Thomas (San Diego, CA/El Cajon Valley HS) went 1-for-2 with three walks, two stolen bases and a run. Travis Earles (Houston/Cy-Falls HS) drove in two runs and stole two bases. Villafuerte went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. The Hoggies stole eight bases in the game. Adrian Williams (Victoria/Memorial HS) added a pair of hits.

Brandon Van Riper pitched six innings without allowing an earned run, but was still tagged with the loss. Zane Hensley led the offense with three hits.

The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday at 6 o’clock at St. Mary’s.
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