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KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – The #RV Texas A&M University-Kingsville baseball team is set to kick off its 2016 campaign against the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles Friday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at Nolan Ryan Field. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Live stats for all three games will be available and video will be streamed on TAMUK.tv Friday.
 
The brief series began in 2013 with the Eagles taking two-of-three from the Javelinas.
 
In the Rankings
Texas A&M-Kingsville is receiving votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II preseason poll.
 
Coming off back-to-back Lone Star Conference championships, the Javelinas return all-conference selections Hayden Vesely, Brayton Carlson and Matt Terrones, along with co-LSC Coach of the Year Jason Gonzales. In his seven year career at the helm of the Javelinas, 'Gonzo' is 212-163 and has earned back-to-back conference coach of the year nods. Returning as assistant coaches are Philip Middleton and Luke Prihoda, and Thomas Simoneaux joins the staff as an assistant after graduating from Louisiana Tech University.
 
Familiar Faces
The Javelinas return four offensive starters from last season, including center fielder Brayton Carlson, left fielder Zach Smith, shortstop Wesley Aguilar, first baseman Jimmy Roche and utility Hayden Vesely. Carlson earned All-LSC second team honors after hitting .323 with two home runs, 19 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a .397 on-base percentage. Smith hit .268 with 15 RBI and 15 sacrifice bunts from the two-hole and Aguilar ended his first season for the Javelinas with a .236 batting average. Roche batted .262 with seven doubles, a home run, 19 RBI and six stolen bases, Vesely earned All-LSC honorable mention after compiling a .294 batting average with 33 RBI and a .425 on-base percentage.
 
Terrones led the club with an 8-1 mark on the bump, earning All-LSC first team honors. Trey Taylor is the lone returning pitcher with over 10 appearances under his belt. Taylor went 1-1 in 20 appearances and 34.1 innings.
 
Scouting the Eagles
Oklahoma Christian returns 13 seniors from the 2015 squad that went 35-22 and advanced to the NCCAA World Series, appearing in the semifinals 12-inning battle versus Fresno Pacific.
 
Notable letterwinners returning are Kyle Lacy and Zac Cobble. Lacy boasted a .299 batting average with nine home runs and Cobble was over the .300-clip plateau (.321) and led the club with a .430 on-base percentage. 
 
For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball, please follow @JavelinaBSB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina baseball (/JavelinaBSB) and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.