VICTORIA, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsvile baseball team pulled off a dramatic comeback victory on the road Saturday night at UH-Victoria, 4-3 in 11 innings.

The Javelinas (3-1) managed only one hit through eight innings, but remained within striking distance due to some excellent relief work by Adam Aspaas (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills HS). They trailed 3-0 as the game went to the ninth inning.

Creighton Hoke pitched a near flawless game for the Jaguars (3-4). He allowed one hit and two walks while striking out nine and took the mound in the top of the ninth hoping to get the complete game shutout.

In the top of the ninth, Ben Villafuerte (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Hoke was pulled for Jaguar closer Nick Huff. Joe Tallerine (Industrial/Bellville HS) greated Hoke with a single and then a walk loaded the bases. Cameron Dullnig (San Antonio/Clark HS) brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and then Tallerine and Dustin Aguilar (San Antonio/Churchill HS) executed a double steal to put runners on second and third. Jake Mendiola (Kingsville/Northeast Richland Hills HS) tied the game with a double.

Aspaas pitched a perfect ninth inning to send the game to extra frames. Neither team could score in the 10th inning, but the Javelinas scraped across a run in the 11th. After two outs, Dullnig singled and then Aguilar pinch ran for him and stole second. Mendiola followed with what proved to be the game-winning single.

Dullnig pitched both extra innings and was able to get out of a jam in the 11th. The Jags had runners on first and third with one out, but Dullnig struck out one batter and induced a fly out to end the game and pick up the victory.

The Javs finished the game with six hits as Dullnig and Mendiola each had two safeties. Mendiola finished with a game-high three RBI’s. The team stole five bases in the game. Dallas Ponder (Flatonia/Flatonia HS) started the game on the mound and went 3.0 innings allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three. Aspaas followed with 6.0 innings allowing six hits and one run while whiffing five. Dullnig pitched the final two frames and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out one.

The Jaguars had 12 hits in the game. Shortstop Chad Kruse went 5-for-5 with a run scored and a double to lead the attack. John Longoria and Hoke each had two hits in the game.

The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday against UT-Brownsville for a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Nolan Ryan Field.
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