KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – A seven-run fifth and complete game by
Preston Plovanich spearheaded the Javelinas to a 9-3 game one victory and a four-run seventh forced extras in game two before No. 27 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (25-13, 16-9 LSC) split Friday's doubleheader at Nolan Ryan Field with a 9-7 loss to No. 30 Angelo State University (24-15, 17-8 LSC), 9-7.
Plovanich (4-1) struck out three in the seven-inning complete game in the opening win. Five hits in the fifth plated seven to give the Hogs the game one win.
Dalton Perry recorded base knocks in both games to extend his reached base safely streak to 27 games.
Game OnePablo Hernandez went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Texas A&M-Kingsville's 9-3 victory in game one but the story was the seven-run fifth that allowed
After a scoreless first, the Hogs struck first in the bottom of the second, as
Jimmy Roche, who walked, scored on an error.
Angelo State scored a run in the third to tie the game at 1-1 but the Javelinas responded a run in the bottom frame to regain a one-run lead as
Ruben Almaguer singled up the middle with two outs to plate
Wesley Aguilar, who led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk.
The Rams took a 3-2 lead after scoring two in the fifth but the dagger was the seven-run fifth by the Hogs as 11 hitters stepped up to bat in the frame. The rally began with Perry's walk and
Hayden Vesely's bunt single to put runners on first and second.
Hunter Perkins followed with an RBI single and Roche walked with the bases loaded to give TAMUK a 4-3 lead. A pitching change brought the same results as Hernandez drove in two on a single and a beautifully placed bunt by
Zach Smith brought in another run.
Christian Caudle sacrificed in the sixth run of the inning and an error brought in the ninth run of the game for TAMUK.
Plovanich shut the door with a scoreless seventh as Texas A&M-Kingsville took game one 9-3 to get his fourth victory of the season. Co-Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year Bryce Zak was tagged for seven runs – five earned – in 4.0 innings to fall to 7-2 on the year.
Game TwoThe Hogs sprayed 14 hits, beginning with a leadoff home run by Perry, and a four-run seventh tied the game at 7-7 and forced extra innings, but Angelo State was able to score two in the 10
th to take game two 9-7.
Perry finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, Vesely went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI and Perkins, Roche and Aguilar recorded two hits apiece.
Five pitchers received action for the Hogs in game two.
Lance Elling (3-1) was charged with the loss in 2.0 innings of work and Graylon Brown (4-4) struck out four in 3.1 innings to pick up the victory.
Angelo State scored a run in the opening inning with the Javelinas answering with three runs in the bottom of the first. Perry led things off with a home run to dead center and Vesely followed with a double.
Ruben Almaguer drove in Vesely on a single through the left side and a third run would score on a double play.
ASU tied the game in the second and took a 7-3 lead with two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth and sixth.
After a couple of scoreless innings, Texas A&M-Kingsville exploded for four runs on four hits, beginning with Caudle's single. Aguilar walked, Perry doubled down the line to plate Caudle and Vesely drove in two on a single to make it a 7-6 game. Moments later, Roche's single tied the game.
In the 10
th, Angelo State was able to score two to take the latter game Friday.
The series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available and can be accessed by visiting JavelinaAthletics.com.
Be sure to follow the six-time Lone Star Conference championships on Twitter (
@JavelinaBSB) and Instagram (
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