KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team kept their Lone Star Conference Playoff hopes alive on Friday night by sweeping visiting East Central University, 6-5 and 12-5 at Nolan Ryan Field. (Game 1, Game 2)

The Javelinas (23-22, 17-15) had to come from behind in the first game, but were able to do so thanks to a two-out, two-run homer by Jake Mendiola (Kingsville/North Richland Hills HS) in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Hoggies had trailed 5-3 heading into the inning against the Tigers (9-36, 5-30), but rallied to take a 6-5 lead.

Javelina senior pitcher Clint Brown (Red Oak/Red Oak HS) came on in the third inning and shut down the Tigers for 3.1 innings allowing three hits, no runs and no walks while striking out six. He picked up his second win of the season in the process.

Jeremy Flores (Victoria/Memorial HS) pitched the seventh inning to earn his seventh save of the year. He walked a batter and allowed a hit, but induced a fly out to end the game.

The Javelinas had nine hits in the game as Ryan Cook (Houston/Mayde Creek HS) and Chris Ballou (Houston/Houston Christian HS) each had two hits in the game.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead thanks to a home run by Chris Montgomery. In the third inning, they scored three times and finished the game with eight hits. Justin Gibson, Ethan Gold and Dack Howard each had two hits. Jeremy Custer took the loss in 3.2 innings of work.

In the second game, the Javelinas took an early lead scoring three times in the second inning. Trent Wagner (Victoria/Memorial HS) drove in two runs with a single and finished the game with a pair of hits and three RBI’s.

The Tigers closed the gap in the middle innings to 6-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Hogs were able to score once in the sixth, once in the seventh and then put the game away with four runs in the eighth.

Ian Jones (Round Rock/McNeil HS) picked up his first win of the year. He allowed three earned runs and one walk while striking out six in 4.1 innings. Nathan Humpal (Corpus Christi/John Paul II) pitched 2.1 shutout innings allowing only one hit and then Jonathon Escobar (Edinburg/Edinburg North HS) closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Javelinas smacked 16 hits as Cook, Cody Stigall (Seguin/Seguin HS) and Cash Barker (Spring/Klein HS) each had three hits for the team. Cook had a triple and drove in three runs. A.J. Hecker (Orange/Bridge City HS) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.

The Tigers had 11 hits in the game with Tyle Hankins leading the way with a three-hit performance. Montgomery had a double and drove in two runs.

The LSC Playoff race will head to the final day of the regular season with three teams competing for the final spot; the Javelinas, Angelo State and West Texas A&M. West Texas A&M defeated Tarleton State to improve to 17-14 in conference play. The Javelinas are a half game behind while ASU lost two games to Cameron today to fall to 18-17. A win by the Javelinas tomorrow and one loss by the Buffalos would put the Javs in the playoffs.
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