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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (Baseball) – No. 25 Texas A&M University (35-19) was in position to upset No. 5/7 St. Edward's University (45-11) and advance to tonight's NCAA Division II South Central Regionals matchup versus Lubbock Christian University, but costly miscues on the field and base paths allowed the Hilltoppers to squeak past the Javelinas, 7-5, Saturday afternoon at Sam Suplizio Field.
 
Hayden Vesely was dealing, tossing two scoreless innings, but a warmup pitch prior to the top of the third inning quieted the Javelina faithful in Grand Junction. The senior was removed due to injury in an emotional visit to the mound for head coach Jason Gonzales and TAMUK.
 
"I threw a warmup pitch and my shoulder didn't feel right," said Vesely. "It was emotional because I knew my career was over. The team showed great fight and I am proud to be a member of this team. I loved my two years here. It's been a blessing and I am extremely proud to end my career as a Javelina. It was fun playing here."
 
Joining the Javelinas prior to the 2015 season, Vesely turned into a modern day MacGyver, playing eight positions en route to earning All-Lone Star Conference honors in back-to-back seasons. This year, the senior was named NCBWA and D2CCA All-South Central Region and earned the distinction of being a NCBWA and LSC Hitter and Pitcher of the Week.
 
Enter Lance Elling, who tossed a career-high 5.0 innings and struck out six on 102 pitches.
 
"Hayden set the tone and I wanted to leave it all on the field," said Elling. "We hoped to end the season with the championship but I loved my two seasons here and playing for the Javelinas."
 
"I am proud of the effort we put forth today," said Gonzales. "Lance came up big for us today and it came at a crucial moment. You could feel the emotion when one of your captains goes down. I couldn't be more proud of this team and am confident that these guys will be tremendous citizens in our society."
 
In his eight seasons at Texas A&M-Kingsville, coach Gonzales has built quite a resume, none bigger than the team's mantra.
 
"The Pack mentality is playing for each other. We know we cannot do it with one guy and we utilize everyone. Everyone plays a role in our success. These guys are great players but also great men and will continue to succeed on and off the field."

An error put the game's leadoff hitter on base, but starting pitcher Vesely was able to induce a 5-4-3 double play and strike out J.D. Arrowood to end the top half of the first. Dalton Perry led off the bottom frame with a single to left field and advanced into scoring position on Brayton Carlson's sacrifice bunt, but was unable to score, ending the first with the game scoreless.
 
A one-out single by Dylan Watts put a runner on for SEU and a hit and run through the right side of the infield allowed the Toppers to put runners at the corners with two outs. However, Vesely was able to record an out as the Goats stranded two in the second.
 
Jimmy Roche battled to begin the bottom of the second and ended the eight pitch at bat with a single to opposite field. The first baseman then swiped second base for his sixth stolen base of the season and advanced to third on a throwing error by Joseph Olson. Christian Caudle followed with a sacrifice, bringing home Roche and giving the Hogs a 1-0 lead.
 
A touching moment on the hill occurred as Vesely stepped on the mound for his third inning of work. The senior, who has been battling injuries in previous weeks, was taken out. Vesely finished with a strikeout in 2.0 scoreless innings.
 
Elling came into the game and had a tough task at hand as the first two runners reached base on a hit by pitch and throwing error. Both moved up a bag on a sacrifice bringing up Arrowood, who was walked to load the bases with one out. Ruben Almaguer was able to get the force out at home and Watts cleared the bases on a triple to give St. Edward's a 3-1 lead. All three runs were unearned.
 
St. Edward's threatened with a runner on third and one out, but Caudle fired a laser to second for the second out of the inning and Elling got shortstop Wesley Harris swinging as the Toppers stranded a runner 90 feet away from home.
 
Hunter Perkins entered as a pinch hitter in place of Vesely in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Hilltoppers were able to add a run in the fifth but it could have been more as Elling struck out Gable Whitacre for the second out and got Nick Lerick to ground out to second as SEU stranded runners in scoring position.
 
With one out in the bottom half of the fifth, Pablo Hernandez drove the ball to center field for a double and came around to score on Zach Smith's RBI single, making it a 4-2 ballgame. On the play, Smith was able to move to second base on a fielding error by Romeo Cortina in right field. After attempting a steal on a foul by pinch hitter Miles Holcomb, pitcher Cameron Stanton checked at second and threw the ball into the outfield, allowing Smith to advance to third. With two outs, Perry registered his second hit of the game to bring home Smith and cut TAMUK's deficit to 4-3. However, the rally ended with Perry picked off for the inning's final out.
 
Tim Gleinser entered as the new shortstop in the sixth and Elling went out for his fourth inning of work. The senior right-hander retired the side in order and Carlson walked to begin the bottom of the sixth, putting the tying run on base. Perkins singled through the right side to put the first two runners on base and Almaguer's bunt advanced both runners into scoring position with one out. With two outs, Caudle singled to the shortstop and a hop allowed the Hogs to score two runs, regaining the lead, 5-4.
 
Stanton went 6.0 innings for the Hilltoppers, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out five.
 
Elling tossed a scoreless seventh, highlighted by Caudle's pickoff to end the top half of the inning.
 
In the eighth, Whitacre singled down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting the tying run in scoring position with no outs. The next batter walked to put runners on first and second. A bunt and error allowed the Hilltoppers to tie the game and put runners in scoring position with no outs, forcing a pitching change. Hunter Lehman was summoned to the mound for TAMUK.
 
On his second pitch of the afternoon, Lehman forced a groundout with the infield in, keeping the runners at second and third. Another grounder, this time to shortstop, halted both runners, but allowed Harris to reach on the fielder's choice. Gleinser threw home and the runner retreated to third.
 
On the very next play, St. Edward's was able to take the lead 7-5 on a two-run single.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Perkins reached on a throwing error and Payton Geisinger entered as a pinch runner. Almaguer singled through the left side to put the tying run at first for Roche. However, the Toppers were able to end the inning unscathed, picking off the runner at first for the inning's final out.
 
Elling finished with 5.0 innings, allowing seven runs – two earned – and striking out six. However, the senior was charged with the loss, ending the season 4-2. Juan Cortina (2-0) earned the victory for the Hilltoppers and Andrew Boes picked up his fourth save of the season.
 
Perry collected two hits from the leadoff spot and ended his lone season at TAMUK with a .391 batting average. Caudle drove in three in three at bats and ended his sophomore campaign with a .329 clip.
 
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