ADA, OKLAHOMA – The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team defeated Lone Star Conference rival East Central on Friday afternoon, 12-7 behind Clifton Thomas’ (San Diego, CA/El Cajon Valley HS) cycle.  (box score)

Thomas and the Javelinas (24-22, 20-17) jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs in the top of the first. Thomas led off with a single and scored on Luis Diaz’s (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS) base hit. Cody Stigall (Seguin/Seguin HS) laced a two-out, two-run double to cap off the inning.

The Tigers (9-25, 8-21) came back with one run in the first inning and five in the third inning to take a 6-3 lead.

The game remained that way until the top of the fifth inning. Thomas led off the inning with his seventh home run of the season. Jerry Rodriguez (Canovanas, P.R.), Travis Earles (Houston/Cy-Falls HS) and Diaz followed with consecutive base hits. Later in the inning, Stigall, Adrian Williams (Victoria/Memorial HS) and Cash Barker (Spring/Klein HS) each drove in a run.

In the sixth inning, Thomas led off with his sixth triple of the season. The triple sparked a two-run rally.

Finally, in the seventh inning it looked like Thomas would not have a chance to hit for the cycle when the first two Hoggie batters made outs. Trent Wagner (Victoria/Memorial HS) was hit by a pitch to give Thomas a chance and he came through with a double to complete the cycle.

The Javelinas finished the game with 15 hits. Thomas went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI’s. Earles, Diaz, Stigall and Brandon Rohr (Anaheim/Orange Lutheran HS) each had two hits. Diaz and Stigall each drove in three runs. David de Leon (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) picked up his eighth win of the year after tossing 5.0 innings and striking out five. Taylor Taska (Kingwood/Kingwood HS) pitched the final 1.2 innings without allowing a hit or run to notch his school record eighth save of the season.

The Tigers were led by Luis Argumedes who went 2-for-2 with three runs, a walk and a hit by pitch. Koby Temple added two hits and an RBI while Grant Rainwater drove in two runs. Will Grimes was tagged with the loss on the mound.

The second game on Friday was suspended due to lightning in the area. The Javelinas were batting in the top of the fifth with two outs and holding a 7-0 lead when play was stopped.

Weather permitting, the two teams will try to resume play at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the regularly scheduled doubleheader.
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