KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) –Â
Dalton Perry tallied eight total bases and finished 5-for-6 with three doubles and seven RBI and
Pablo Hernandez added three base hits in No. 26 Texas A&M University-Kingsville's (28-13, 18-9 LSC) 11-5 victory over Eastern New Mexico University (10-32, 3-24 LSC) Friday evening at Nolan Ryan Field.
Â
Every batter reached base safely and
Wesley Aguilar reached base safely in all five plate appearances with two singles, two runs and three walks. Perry now leads the Lone Star Conference in hitting.
Â
With the win, the Javelinas are currently in first place in the LSC standings along with Angelo State University, who defeated West Texas A&M University 2-1.
Â
After a 1-2-3 inning by
Preston Plovanich to begin the game, Perry led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on
Ruben Almaguer's two-out single to give TAMUK a 1-0 lead.
Â
The Greyhounds scored two runs in the top of the second and the Javelinas responded with two and threatened for more. Back-to-back leadoff singles by
Christian Caudle and
Jimmy Roche and a perfectly placed bunt by Aguilar loaded the bases and Perry followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
Zach Smith walked to keep the bases juiced and give the Hogs a 3-2 edge.
Â
A solo shot in the top of the third tied the game at 3-3.
Â
A three-run third allowed Kingsville to regain the lead, this time 6-3 with one swing of the bat. Hernandez led off the frame with a single and Caudle and Aguilar walked to load the bases. Perry launched a double off the left field wall to clear the bags and give the Javelinas a 6-3 advantage.
Â
Eastern New Mexico scored a run in the fifth and sixth to make it a 6-5 ballgame.
Â
Perry registered his fourth hit of the game with a double in the seventh to give TAMUK a 7-5 lead. The double was his third of Friday's game, tying the single game school record.
Â
The Hogs added four runs in the eighth, capped off by Perry's two-run single that extended their lead to 11-5.
Â
Plovanich struck out eight in 6.2 innings to improve to 5-1 in his freshman campaign. Alec Lemmon (2-4) allowed six runs in 2.1 innings and was charged with the loss.
Lance Elling tossed 2.1 shutout innings and struck out three to earn his second save of the season.
Â
The series concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to the first game, Texas A&M-Kingsville's 10 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the Javelina baseball program. Live stats and video will be available.
Â
Be sure to follow the six-time Lone Star Conference championships on Twitter (
@JavelinaBSB) and Instagram (
@JavelinaBSB), and like the
/JavelinaSports Facebook page. Â
Â
Â