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KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – #RV Texas A&M University-Kingsville (0-3) threatened in both games but Oklahoma Christian University (3-0) was able to escape Nolan Ryan Field with a three-game sweep over the Hogs, defeating Kingsville 8-2 in game one and 5-4 in game two.
 
Hayden Vesely struck out eight in his first pitching appearance for the Javelinas in game one but ended up with a no-decision. Tim Gleinser scored three runs in game two from the leadoff spot and Ruben Almaguer drove in two from the cleanup spot, concluding the series with a batting average over .300.
 
Game One
The Eagles stepped into the batters box and Vesely sat them down, but his eight strikeouts rang up the pitch count and forced the returning All-Lone Star Conference selection out of the ballgame after 4.0 innings. Oklahoma Christian struck for four runs in in the eighth to take game one, 8-2.
 
OC tacked on a run in the second and third to take a 2-0 lead but the Javelinas knotted it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. Wesley Aguilar began the frame with a walk and two batters later, Brayton Carlson reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second with one out. A wild pitch advanced both runners 90 feet and Zach Smith's single through the left side made it a 2-1 game. Seconds later, Carlson came around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2.
 
The Eagles regained the lead, 3-2, in the fifth and tacked on an insurance run in the seventh for a two-run cushion. The four runs in the eighth allowed the Eagles to take game one, 8-2.
 
Jake Baxter went 3-for-4 in the win for the Eagles. Kyle Lacy (1-0) picked up the victory after going 7.0 innings, striking out nine. Shane Veeder (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs – five earned – in 3.0 innings.
 
Game Two
Oklahoma Christian put a run up on the scoreboard in the opening inning but the Javelinas answered back with a run of their own. Small ball factored in with Gleinser, who reached safely on a hit by pitch. After advancing on a balk, Gleinser scored on Almaguer's single to tie the game at 1-1.
 
OC regained a one-run lead in the second but the Javelinas responded with two runs in the third to take a 3-2 lead. Gleinser reached on an error and scored on Dalton Perry's double. Vesely laid down a perfect bunt to put runners at the corners and Almaguer drove in his second run of the game, giving the Hogs a 3-2 lead.
 
The Eagles scored two runs on two hits in the fourth but the Javelinas tied the game again, this time at 4-4 on Vesely's sacrifice fly.
 
OC tacked on a run in the seventh to clinch the series victory, 3-0, with a 5-4 win in game two. In the frame, the Javelinas showcased the leather with Wesley Aguilar making a diving stop and Jimmy Roche making two great scoops at first base.
 
"Our veterans will try to take some of the pressure off our young pitching staff," said head coach Jason Gonzales. "We have some work to do but we believe in our system. We will tinker with our lineup early on in the year and are not set on nine guys for the entire season. Our starter last night and today pitched well."
 
Preston Plovanich recorded a no-decision in his first start as a Javelina, punching out five in 4.0 innings. The southpaw threw 78 pitches and Trey Taylor threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Jake Moore (1-0) was credited with the victory for the Eagles and Dillon Fazekas picked up the save. Jako Kelm (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing a run in 2.2 innings. The left-hander struck out three Eagles.
 
Perry went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run and Roche added a base knock. Baxter went 3-for-4 in game two for OC.
 
The Javelinas head to Houston-Victoria Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup
 
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