KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville bats were ready for West Texas A&M’s undefeated starting pitcher Justin Kuks on Friday night at Nolan Ryan Field. The Javelinas scored eight runs in the first four innings and won, 10-7 to take the first game of a three-game Lone Star Conference baseball series. (box score)

The Buffalos (18-9, 9-7) got on the scoreboard first by taking advantage of a first inning error by the Javelinas (14-11, 11-8). Will Miller drove in Eric Dorton with a two-out single.

The Javelinas tied up the game in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Jerry Rodriguez (Canovanas, P.R./North Lake). They took the lead in the second inning scoring a pair of runs as Ryan Cook (Houston/Mayde Creek HS) drove in one with a double.

In the fourth inning, the Javelinas sent Kuks to the showers early. A.J. Hecker (Orange/Bridge City HS) led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He moved over to third on a wild pitch and then scored on Ben Villafuerte’s (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) run-scoring single. Cook followed with his first home run of the season. A single by Rodriguez and a home run by Chris Ballou (Houston/Houston Christian HS) ended Kuks’ day.

Tim Jones (Lake Jackson/Brazoswood HS) maintained an 8-3 lead for the Hoggies into the seventh inning when he ran into some trouble. The Buffs scored three times, including a two-run homer by Jordan Easom, but reliever Clint Brown (Red Oak/Red Oak HS) was able to close out the inning before too much damage was done.

The Buffs scored a run and loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but Jonathon Escobar (Edinburg/Edinburg North HS) was able to get out of the inning with the Javelinas clinging to an 8-7 lead.

The Javs took advantage of a catcher’s interference call in the eighth and wound up scoring two runs to give them a cushion heading into the ninth.

Ace reliever Jeremy Flores (Victoria/Memorial HS) came on to earn his sixth save of the year, but it was an adventure. A lead-off walk, a single and an error loaded the bases with one out, but he was able to strikeout the final two batters of the game to preserve the win.

Jones improved to 4-2 on the season with 6.1 innings of work. The Javs pounded out 14 hits in the game. Cook was 3-for-5 with a double, home run and three RBI’s. Villafuerte had a pair of hits and scored three times while Rodriguez and Hecker each had two hits and scored two runs.

Kuks fell to 5-1 on the season after allowing 10 hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings. Josh Reyes did an excellent job keeping the Buffs in the game by tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. Brad Elders and Miller each had two hits to lead the offense.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader.
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