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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Baseball) – Christian Caudle reached base safely in all four plate appearances, Hayden Vesely finished with two doubles and two RBI and Trey Taylor retired the nine hitters he faced in No. 25/22 Texas A&M University-Kingsville's (34-16) 5-2 loss to West Texas A&M University (34-17), 5-2, Thursday afternoon in game one of the 2016 Lone Star Conference Tournament at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
Plovanich was able to strand WT runners in scoring position in the first two innings and Caudle picked off a runner at first to end the top of the third. LSC Freshman of Year Plovanich also stepped off the mound to catcher a Buffs runner leaning heading to third base earlier in the game. After three shutout innings, West Texas A&M played small ball and manufactured the game's first run on a squeeze play. Nick Chapman doubled in the frame after TAMUK's fielder tripped attempting to field the fly ball.
 
In the top of the fifth, an error proved to be crucial as the Buffalos added two runs on a two-out double to extend their lead to 3-0. Errors and small ball brought in two more runs for West Texas A&M in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.
 
Plovanich went 6.0 innings, allowing five runs – one earned – and struck out three.
 
Beginning the bottom of the seventh with Caudle reaching for the third time today, Miles Holcomb pinch hit and drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Tim Gleinser pinch ran at first for Holcomb. Dalton Perry walked with two outs to load the bases for Vesely, forcing a pitching change for the Buffs after Moore tossed 6.2 innings. Vesely drove the first pitch from Justin McAllister to right field for a two-run double for TAMUK's first two runs of the game. The two-bagger put runners in scoring position with two outs for Ruben Almaguer, who nearly reached on an infield single before a spectacular play by Matt Cole.
 
All-Lone Star Conference First Team pitcher Austin Moore struck out nine in 6.2 innings and allowed four hits and two runs for WT to improve to 9-3.
 
Caudle registered his third base knock of the game with a single to opposite field in the eighth.
 
Taylor, who relieved Plovanich, retired the nine batters he faced, tossing 3.0 perfect innings. Plovanich fell to 7-2 on the year. Kyle Tinius shut the door on any comeback hopes for TAMUK to pick up his 14^th save of the season.
 
The Javelinas will take on the loser of the No. 1 Angelo State University/No. 4 Cameron University contest, which is underway.
 
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