SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team swept a pair of baseball games at Lone Star Conference rival Angelo State University ending each with a double play. The Javelinas won the first game, 11-10 and the second game, 9-7. The wins clinched a berth in the LSC Tournament that begins on May 1 in Abilene. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the Javelinas (27-22, 23-17) jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Rams (30-23, 22-19) responded with a five-run fifth inning to tie the game at 8-8. The Hoggies reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth after Brandon Rohr (Anaheim, CA/Orange Lutheran HS) doubled and Cody Stigall (Seguin/Seguin HS) drove him in with a single, all with two outs. In the top of the seventh inning, Clifton Thomas (San Diego, CA/El Cajon Valley HS) hit a two-run homer, his second of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Rams scored two runs and had runners on first and second with one out. Taylor Taska (Kingwood/Kingwood HS) induced Clay Puckett to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game. It gave Taska his ninth save of the season.

The Javelinas finished the game with 14 hits as six players had two hits apiece. Thomas homered to lead off the game and finished the game with two homers, three runs, a stolen base and three RBI’s while Travis Earles (Houston/Cy-Falls HS) added a home run, two runs and two RBI’s. Clint Brown (Red Oak/Red Oak HS) picked up his second win of the season after tossing one shutout inning of relief.

The Rams pounded out 18 hits and had seven players with at least two hits. Chris Adamson and Travis Lites each went 3-for-3 in the game. Zak Leonhardt, Isaac Garcia and Jesse Husband each drove in two runs. Craig Blair was tagged with the loss to fall to 3-3 on the season after allowing three runs in two innings.

In the second game, the Javelinas jumped out to another early lead and held on for the victory. They led 9-4 after five and a half innings, but the Rams kept fighting back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the ninth, the Rams mounted one last rally.

Garcia and Puckett led off with back-to-back walks and Dylan Petrich followed with a run-scoring double. After one out, Hoggie starter pitcher Dan Rogers (Redwood City, CA/Woodside HS) was finally sent to the showers. Jeremy Flores (Corpus Christi/Calallen HS) came in to pitch to Keith Towne who ended up walking to load the bases. Brown was called upon again and induced Leonhardt to ground into a double play to end the game.

Rogers improved to 8-1 on the season for the Javelinas and Brown picked up his first career save.
At the plate, the Javelinas picked up 10 hits in the game. Thomas went 2-for-5 with three runs, a stolen base and an RBI. Jerry Rodriguez (Canovanas, P.R.) hit a home run and drove in three runs while Trent Wagner (Victoria/Memorial HS) went 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base.

The Rams finished the game with 14 hits and seven doubles. Travis Lites went 3-for-4 with three doubles and two runs. Austin Lasprilla added three hits, two RBI’s and a run. Garcia finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI’s.

Chase Barrera was tagged with the loss to fall to 4-4 on the season. Corey Morehouse with 2.2 perfect innings while striking out three.

The teams will finish their series on Saturday starting at 1 o’clock.
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