KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – Javelina baseball fans are in for a weekend full of festivities as No. 21/19 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1-2) battles Newman University (2-1) for the first time ever at Nolan Ryan Field on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.
The three-game series begins at 3 p.m. on Friday with game two set for approximately 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, first pitch is set for 1 p.m. Prior to the Valentine's Day slate, coaches, support staff and players of the 2014 Lone Star Conference championship team will be honored in a pregame ceremony and receive championship rings for their contributions to the diamond Hogs last season. Live stats will be available for all three games and live video will be provided for Saturday's matinee, beginning with a pregame show by the
Javelina Broadcast Network.
TAMUK is coming off a 6-4 upset victory over No. 10/9 Southern Arkansas University in its final game of the QuikTrip Division II Classic in Grand Prairie.
Mario Siller's two-run sacrifice propelled the Hogs to their first-ever win over the Muleriders. In the game,
Brayton Carlson blasted the team's first home run of the season – a solo shot – and
Ryan Scott came out of the 'pen to fire 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win.
Ryan Benitez (0-0) gets the call in game one after going a career-high 7.1 in a no-decision against SAU. The senior right-hander struck out six in the game and only allowed five hits.
Protect Our HouseThe Javelinas are as dominate as any team in NCAA Division II when playing in their home stadium as Texas A&M-Kingsville has compiled a 348-200-1 record in Nolan Ryan Field since the stadium opened in 1994. In fact, since the program's inception (1993), the Javelinas are 14-8 in home openers and 12-2 in home opening series', earning seven series sweeps along the way.
RankingsThe National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) features the Javelinas at No. 21 nationally while the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (CBN) has the Hogs at No. 19. The first poll of the 2015 campaign will be released on Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. CT.
Scouting the JetsNewman fell in its home opener, 4-3, to Colorado Mines, but the Jets defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State in back-to-back games, 9-2, and 5-3, respectively. Garrett Thomas leads the club with seven hits in 14 at-bats, four doubles, six RBI and a home run. Jarrod Flax also has a home run under his belt and ripped five hits in the team's first three games of the 2015 campaign. Cody Fredericksen (1-0) earned a win after striking out five in 5.0 innings of one run ball (unearned) and Dylan Porter threw 5.2 innings in the second win over OPHU. Closer Cody Mondello shut the door to earn a save in Sunday's win, striking out two in an inning of work.
Battle of In-Region OpponentsNewman competes in the Heartland Conference and was picked to finish fifth in the conference. However, the NCBWA Preseason Regional Poll has the Javelinas finishing third in the region and the Jets on the outside looking in. Appearing on the preseason regional honorable mention team are Thomas and Tyler Bugner, while Scott is a preseason first-team selection.
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