STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – No. 23/t-24 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (19-11, 13-5 LSC) took an early lead in game one but Tarleton State University (11-13, 5-9 LSC) rallied to take the first game, 7-3, and exploded for 18 runs in game two to defeat the Javelinas, 18-1, sweeping Saturday's doubleheader at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex.
Game OneTexas A&M-Kingsville took a 2-0 lead in the third, but the Texans rallied from behind with two three-run innings to take game one, 7-3.
Ryan Fickel and
Jimmy Roche went 2-for-2 and combined for three runs scored from the leadoff spot and the nine-hole, respectively.
Matt Terrones (5-1) was tagged with his first loss of season after allowing four runs – three earned – in 5.0 innings of work. Right-hander Trevor Renfro (2-2) went 5.0 innings, striking out six and giving up three runs for the win. Hunter Houston earned his second save of the season after throwing 2.0 scoreless innings in relief.
The Hogs put together a two-run third on three consecutive two out hits. After singles by Roche and Fickel,
Zach Smith doubled to left center field to bring home the first two runs of the game and give TAMUK a 2-0 lead.
However, Tarleton State scored three in the fourth to head into the final three innings with a one-run lead. TAMUK tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth when Roche, who doubled to the right center field gap, came around to score on Fickel's RBI single.
TSU was able to score a run in the bottom of the fifth and added three runs in the sixth to take game one, 7-3.
Game TwoTarleton's bats exploded for 18 runs and 16 hits to sweep Saturday's doubleheader, taking game two, 18-1.
Hayden James (5-2) was hit with his second loss of the season after allowing seven runs in 1.2 innings. Earning the win was right-hander Kyle Gottardy (1-4) after allowing a run in 5.0 innings.
JP Phillips went 1-for-2 with a double and Fickel drove in a run.
The series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available and can be accessed by visiting JavelinaAthletics.com, the official home of Texas A&M-Kingsville athletics.
For full coverage of Kingsville baseball, please follow @TAMUKBaseball14 on Twitter and @JavelinaAthletics on Instagram, like our Facebook page (Javelina Nation) and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.
