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LAWTON, Okla. (Baseball) – The second half of Lone Star Conference play begins around the league this weekend and the first place Javelinas will look to extend their one-game lead when they take on Cameron University (21-11, 9-11 LSC) in a three-game series at McCord Field, beginning with a 3 p.m. contest April 8.
 
The series concludes Saturday with a double dip beginning at 1 p.m. as No. 25/16 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (23-10, 14-6 LSC) battles the Aggies. Live stats and video will be available for all four games on JavelinaAthletics.com.
 
About the Hogs
The Javelinas are 8-3 on the road this season and rank No. 4 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) South Central Region. Preston Plovanich was named the LSC's and NCBWA South Central Region's Pitcher of the Week after tossing 8.1 shutout innings in a win over then No. 17/11 West Texas A&M University. In LSC play, Plovanich is 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA. In the win over the Buffs, he retired 20 consecutive batters and enters the weekend without allowing an earned run in 24.1 innings.
 
In conference action, the Javelinas lead the league in hitting with a team batting average of .307, walks with 93 and stolen bases with 33. Dalton Perry leads the team and conference in hitting with a .419 batting average and eight doubles, three triples, four home runs and five stolen bases. The senior has reached base safely in 22 consecutive games. Ruben Almaguer is batting .336 with 12 doubles, tied for the league lead, and his 23 walks are the most in the LSC. Hayden Vesely leads in triples with six and also has nine doubles, two home runs, 23 RBI and a .333 batting average. Pablo Hernandez is tied for the conference lead in home runs with six and the freshman is hitting .322 with 22 RBI. Jimmy Roche (.327) and Christian Caudle (.320) are also over the .300 clip, while Zach Smith is fourth in the league in stolen bases with 10.
 
In conference play, Caudle is batting .362 (fourth best) with 16 walks, a league-high. Roche (.328) has 16 RBI in LSC action, Hernandez has four home runs and a .323 batting average, Vesely is hitting .314 with seven doubles and three triples and Wesley Aguilar is batting .313 nine runs scored.
 
Plovanich is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA overall, second lowest in the Lone Star Conference. Shane Veeder is ninth with a 3.71 ERA to go with his 4-2 mark. His 0.64 ERA in LSC play is second lowest as well, while Jacob Foitek is 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA in conference games. Jako Kelm is 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 15 appearances and Sebi Palacios is 1-0 with a 3.08 ERA. Vesely, Trey Taylor and Hunter Lehman each have two saves on the year.
 
About the Aggies
Cameron leads the LSC in hitting with a team batting average of .312. The Aggies are coming off a 14-10 victory over No. 22 Lubbock Christian University. Cody Bower is third on the LSC leaderboard, batting .398 for the Aggies. Topping the league in runs scored is Nate Hale (34) and Tyler McKinzie (32). CU's pitching staff accounts for a 3.78 ERA, which is third in the LSC.
 
Earlier this season, the Javelinas handed Cameron its first loss of the season with a 9-0 victory in the LSC opener (March 4). The Hogs followed with a Saturday doubleheader sweep, 3-1, and 9-6. At that point, the Aggies were ranked No. 10 in the NCBWA poll and No. 24 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (CBN) poll.
 
The Javelinas are ranked No. 25 in the NCBWA national poll, No. 16 in the CBN poll and No. 23 in the D2BaseballNews.com national rankings.
 
TAMUK leads the all-time series 58-19.
 
Social Media
Be sure to follow the six-time Lone Star Conference championships on Twitter (@JavelinaBSB) and Instagram (@JavelinaBSB), and like the /JavelinaSports Facebook page.