KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team entered their weekend series against Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State with a lot of momentum.  They end having been held to three runs in three games and were shutout twice on Saturday, 6-0 and 10-0, at home. (Game 1, Game 2)

One inning was the difference in the first game of the doubleheader as the Texans (10-2, 7-2) scored all six of their runs in the third inning on five hits.  Landon McCall and Mark Jeffery each had RBI doubles in the inning while Chris Cassaza cracked a three-run homer.  The Texans would pick up only one more hit the rest of the game.

Mike Ramirez improved to 3-0 after pitching a complete game shutout allowing eight hits and one walk while striking out nine.

The Javelinas (6-6, 4-5) left eight men on base in the game as they outhit the Texans, but could not solve the mystery of Ramirez.  Chris Ballou (Houston/Houston Christian HS) went 3-for-3 at the plate while Jake Mendiola (Kingsville/Richland Northeast HS) was 2-for-2 with a walk.  Clay Stephens was handed the loss to fall to 2-1 on the year.  Ian Jones (Round Rock/McNeil HS) was outstanding in relief.  He tossed 4.2 innings while allowing one hit and striking out four.

The second game was all Texans as they scored two times in the top of the first and then poured on the runs late with two in the sixth and five in the seventh.  They had three pitchers combine on the shutout with Brandyn Greer getting credit with the win after pitching 3.0 strong innings of relief.  He allowed three hits and struck out three.

On offense, Cassaza hit his second three-run homer of the game to lead the 10-run outburst that only included six hits.  Travis Hayes went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI’s.

The Javelinas managed only four hits in the game and Ballou saw his 10-game hitting come to an end after going 0-for-3.  Tim Jones (Lake Jackson/Brazoswood HS) was handed the loss despite only allowing three hits, three earned runs and two walks in 5.1 innings.  He struck out eight batters in the game.

The Javelinas will attempt to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday when they travel to UT-Brownsville for a game starting at 6 p.m.
####
pr11092-smm