AUSTIN, TEXAS – Taylor Taska’s (Kingwood/Kingwood HS) three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning capped a 5-run rally and it proved to be the difference in a 6-5 victory for #28 Texas A&M-Kingsville over St. Edward’s in baseball action on Tuesday afternoon.
The home Hilltoppers (21-9) took advantage of three first inning walks to score twice and take an early lead. Wes Koenig and Ransom LaLonde each drove in a run with a single.
The Javelinas (20-7) made it a 2-1 deficit in the second inning. Cameron Dullnig (San Antonio/Clark HS) continued his recent hot streak at the plate with a lead-off double. He came around to score on Mario Siller’s (San Antonio/MacArthur HS) sacrifice fly.
The Hilltoppers made it a 3-1 game in the third inning, but Javelinas were able to storm back in the fifth. The Hogs manufactured the first run using a hit by pitch, bunt single, double steal and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Dullnig tied the game up with his two-out single. James Black (Spring/Klein Collins HS) followed with another single and then Taska’s blast gave them the lead.
The Hilltopper pitching staff would shut down the Javs over the final four innings giving up just a lone single allowing the team to battle back into the game.
Denver Diefenbach (Victoria/St. Joseph’s HS) pitched solidly for the Javelinas. He went 4.2 innings and allowed six hits, one run and one walk while striking out two. He was able to work his way out of trouble in the sixth and seventh innings and ended up getting his first win of the year.
Before Diefenbach could get his win there were a few scary moments for the Javelinas. The Hilltoppers scored a run in the eighth inning thanks to a failed pick-off attempt. In the ninth inning, they took advantage of a passed ball to pull to within 6-5 with two outs and the tying run on base, but Dullnig was able to induce a game-ending ground out. It was his seventh save of the season.
Dullnig and Black led the Javelina offensive attack. Dullnig was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while extending his hitting streak to five games. Black, fresh off being named the Diamond Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week, went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Koenig led the Hilltoppers with a four-hit performance and drove in two. Adam Shank and Taylor Johnson each had two hits and scored two runs. Brad Nasis fell to 4-3 on the season after allowing six hits, five runs and two walks while striking out two in 4.2 innings. Tyler Harris struck out six batters in 3.1 innings.
The Javelinas are back in action on Thursday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader with LSC rival Cameron at home. The team finished off their current 10-game road stretch with an 8-2 mark, including six straight victories to close it out.
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