KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – New look, same result. The Javelinas, donning their blue jerseys for the first time at home, walked off in extras Monday, defeating Eastern New Mexico University (5-14, 1-7 LSC), 3-2, at Nolan Ryan Field.
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Texas A&M University-Kingsville (15-7, 9-2 LSC) swept the four-game series after second baseman
Ryan Fickel singled to left center field to bring in the winning run on a wet Monday afternoon.Â
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Ryan Scott (2-2) dominated in 5.0 innings out of the bullpen, striking out nine and allowing just one walk to earn the victory. Clyde Kendrick picked up the no-decision in 5.0 innings, striking out nine. Zach Shank (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing the winning run in the 11
th inning. Fickel went 3-for-4 and reached base safely five times.
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"Ryan (Scott) came up big for us," said head coach
Jason Gonzales. "I am very proud of our team. Our goal was to win the series and we did that, but they still came out and played hard today. They could have used excuses but great teams adapt. We adapted to the field conditions and Ryan (Fickel) set the tone offensively, getting on base five times and coming up with the big hit to win it."
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Eastern's Kendrick began the game with nine consecutive balls, but got three big outs against the meat of TAMUK's order to strand two runners in scoring position.
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Speed factored into the Greyhounds' first run of the game as a stolen base/wild pitch gave ENMU its first lead of the series, 1-0, heading into the bottom of the second. Matthew Burks came around third and a play was imminent at the plate, but the speedy second baseman crossed home for a 1-0 lead.
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Small ball was the plan for Eastern New Mexico and they executed again in the fourth, swiping second to put a runner in scoring position with no outs. A failed pickoff attempt allowed the Greyhounds to take a 2-0 lead. However, things could have been much worse if not for Fickel's sensational catch in shallow right field to end the top half of the fourth.
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Will Abbott (0-0) was the starter for the Hogs and went 3.0 innings, striking out two. The right-hander allowed three hits and two runs – one earned.
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A walk and hit by pitch put runners on first and second with one out. After
Blake Johnson's single loaded the bases, a balk brought in the Javelinas' first run of the game, making it a one-run ballgame. With the tying run on third,
Jimmy Roche drove a ball deep to center field to tie the game at 2.
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Scott dominated in his first three innings, striking out six and a leadoff walk by
Brayton Carlson put the winning run on base. A sacrifice bunt by
Miles Holcomb moved Carlson to scoring position, but Eastern New Mexico ended the inning unscathed, giving the fans at Nolan Ryan Field free baseball.
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Errors looked to be costly by Scott, who entered his fourth inning of work, came up huge for the Javelinas, striking out the next three batters. He finished with 5.0 shutout innings and a career-high nine strikeouts.
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Scott retired the hitters in order in the 11
th and in the bottom of the frame, Roche doubled to left center field to put the winning run on second. Two batters later, Fickel singled in Roche to give the Javelinas their second sweep of the season.
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The Hogs host No. 6 Angelo State University (18-4) this weekend for a four-game set, beginning on Friday, March 20 at 6 p.m.
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