SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Baseball) – The top of the Javelina order combined to go 7-11 with eight runs as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (5-3), led by
Dalton Perry's 3-5 performance with four RBI and three runs, defeated St. Mary's University (8-6), 10-7, Thursday evening at Dickson Stadium.
Perry's three-hit night included a solo shot in the sixth and two doubles. Down 7-4 heading into the fifth, the Javelinas scored six unanswered runs to rally from behind to upend the Rattlers.
Brayton Carlson went 2-for-3 with three runs scored from the leadoff spot and
Hayden Vesely,
Zach Smith and
Christian Caudle each finished with two hits.
Shane Veeder tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in relief to improve to 2-1 on the year and
Trey Taylor struck out one in 2.0 innings to earn his first save of the season. Trent Rosseau allowed three runs, two earned, in 3.0 innings to fall to 0-1 for StMU.
The Javelinas opened the game with two runs in the first, beginning with Carlson's leadoff single. Coming around to score on
Ruben Almaguer's sacrifice fly, Perry, who reached safely on a walk, crossed the plate on Smith's RBI single to give the Hogs a 2-0 lead.
Kingsville added two runs in the second to jump to a 4-0 lead on Perry's two-run double in the second. The Rattlers responded with five runs in the bottom frame to take a 5-4 edge and scored two more runs in the fourth to take a three-run cushion.
Texas A&M-Kingsville's comeback hopes stayed alive after a run crossed the plate in the fifth on
Wesley Aguilar's fielder's choice plated Caudle, who reached on a double and moved to third on
Miles Holcomb's pinch hit single.
Perry's solo bomb with one out in the sixth made it a one-run ballgame and Vesely, who ended the day with three base on balls, walked and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Almaguer's single gave the freshman his second ribbie of the game and knotted the game at 7-7.
Vesely began the eighth with a single to right field and moved to third after swiping his second bag of the game and a throwing error.
Pablo Hernandez singled up the middle to give the Javelinas their first lead since the second inning, 8-7. The Javelinas continued to add insurance runs, plating two more in the ninth as TAMUK took the first game of a three-game series, 10-7.
The series heads to Kingsville as the Javelinas host St. Mary's Saturday for a double dip at Nolan Ryan Field beginning 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 baseball.
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