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GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Baseball) – Fresh off a No. 21 national ranking in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll, Texas A&M University-Kingsville opens up its 2015 campaign at the QuikTrip Division II Classic in Grand Prairie, Texas, to face Ouachita Baptist University (2-1), Southwestern Oklahoma State University (0-2) and No. 10/9 Southern Arkansas University (2-1).
 
TAMUK will play the Tigers at 1 p.m. on Thursday at QuikTrip Park, the Bulldogs at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Muleriders on Saturday at 4 p.m. All games will have live stats and video and can be accessed by visiting the QuikTrip Division II Central page on JavelinaAthletics.com.
 
The eight-team tournament includes Texas A&M-Kingsville, Lone Star Conference counterpart West Texas A&M University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Pittsburg State University, Nebraska-Kearney, Southern Arkansas, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Ouachita Baptist.


The Javelinas are coming off a 38-20 season that featured 10 all-LSC honorees, including returning closer Ryan Scott. Entering his seventh season at the helm is reigning LSC Coach of the Year Jason Gonzales. The Javelinas earned the LSC championship and were one out away from advancing to the College World Series.
 
OBU is 2-1 on the young season after taking two-out-of-three from St. Edward's University, a team that appeared in the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals last season. Justin Weigle went 5-of-11 in the opening series, while Jace Miller hit the Tigers' first long ball of the season – a two-run shot – in the final game against the Hilltoppers.
 
The Tigers compiled a 2.67 team earned run average and all three starting pitchers threw at least 6.0 innings in the three games. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.
 
The Bulldogs are searching for their first win of the season after falling to WT in two one-run contests, 6-5 and 4-3 on Feb. 1. In the series, Jacob Spring and Korbin Polston hit .429, and despite losing both games to the Buffs, the team put up a respectable 3.00 ERA. The Javelinas are 19-10 all-time against SWSOU.
 
The nationally-ranked Muleriders are 2-1 after earning two wins against Lindenwood University. SAU blasted two home runs and Korey Keith went 4-of-8 from the dish, while Carver Rademacher and Trevor Rucker combined for two home runs and five RBI. Southern Arkansas swept the regular season series from Kingsville in 2014.
 
TAMUK was picked to win the Lone Star Conference in the preseason poll as voted on by coaches, sports information directors and media representatives. NCBWA predicted the Hogs would finish third in the South Central Region, earning its fourth consecutive trip to the regional tournament.
 
The Javelinas will have an entirely new pitching rotation but the backend remains in tack with Scott coming back after tying a single season record with 14 saves. Returning as regulars on the diamond are Miles Holcomb, Blake Johnson and Clint Wallace.