KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Texas A&M-Kingsville and #4 Angelo State split a Lone Star Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Nolan Ryan Field. The Javelinas won the first game, 3-2 and the Rams prevailed in the second game, 6-3 in extra innings.

The Javelinas (12-4, 2-1) received another sterling pitching performance from senior Adam Aspaas (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills HS). He retired 15 of the first 18 batters he faced and scattered four hits over the complete seven innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out five to improve to 4-1 on the year.

The Javs took the lead in the first inning when Joe Tallerine (Bellville/Industry HS) reach base via error, stole second and third and scored when the throw to third went wild.

They added a run in the fourth on a solo home run by Cameron Dullnig (San Antonio/O’Connor HS) and another in the sixth on an RBI single from Taylor Taska (Kingwood/Kingwood HS).

The Rams (17-6, 1-2) threatened in the top of the seventh scoring a pair of unearned runs, but were unable to tie up the game. Rick Reyna pitched a complete game and took the loss after allowing eight hits, two earned runs and no walks while striking out three.

In the second game, the Rams jumped out to an early lead scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Quaid McKinnon smacked a run-scoring double and came around on Lee Neumann’s single. Neumann doubled and scored in the fourth inning to give them a 3-1 lead.

The Javelinas scored a run in the bottom of the third inning and then tied the game in the fourth inning. Trent Wagner (Victoria/Memorial HS) doubled and later scored on Taska’s single. Cash Barker (Spring/Klein HS) followed Taska with the game-tying single.

The Hoggies had chances in the fifth and sixth innings stranding five runners on base without scoring. The Rams took advantage in the first extra frame. Ryan Greer slapped a two-run single to right field and Andrew LaCombe followed with a squeeze bunt to make it 6-3. The Javs went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

Michael Weatherly pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Rams to improve to 3-0 on the season. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three. The Rams had seven hits as a team with Neumann and Toby Semler each getting two hits.

The Javelinas had nine hits in the game with Wagner and Barker each getting a pair of safeties. Adrian De La Garza (Pearland/Dobie HS) pitched three scoreless innings of relief before getting knocked around in the eighth inning and ended up taking the loss. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three.

The two teams will conclude their series on Sunday with a single nine-inning game at 1 p.m.
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