KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (12-7) begins its quest for Lone Star Conference title No. 7 this weekend when the Pack welcomes #RV Tarleton State University (16-8) at Nolan Ryan Field. The four-game series is the start to the conference schedule.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW

Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m.	Live Stats	Video
Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m.	Live Stats	Video
Saturday, March 25 at 4 p.m.	Live Stats	Video
Sunday, March 26 at 1 p.m.	Live Stats	Video

 
IRONY
Should the Javelinas win conference title No. 7, they would match head coach Jason Gonzales' jersey number.
 
ZACH ATTACK
Right-hander Zach Wilson and the Javelinas salvaged the final game of a four-game series versus Cameron University last week. Wilson tossed 8.2 innings, punching out 10 to tie his season-high. Tyler Crouch came out of the 'pen to shut the door for his second save.
 
LEADERS
Behind the plate, Christian Caudle is showcasing impressive skills offensively and defensively. At the plate, CC is batting .400 with four doubles, two triples and 10 RBI. He has 20 walks and boasts a .566 on-base percentage, and is tied with first baseman Jimmy Roche and second baseman Joshua Croft for the team lead in stolen bags with three. Caudle has thrown out six baserunners on the basepaths. The .566 OBP ranks 20^th in the nation and his 1.05 walks per game is 10^th.
 
In his first season in Kingsville, Levi Zents is 15^th in the country in walks per game (1.0) and his OBP is .534. From the hot corner, Zents is hitting .325 with 17 walks.
 
Hunter Perkins is second on the team, hitting .347 with a home run and 13 RBI. The senior has seen action on the rubber, as a designated hitter and in right field. Anchoring the infield is sophomore Alex Gonzalez, who has shined early on in his first season as a starter, hitting .326 with eight ribbies. Roche is batting .308 with 14 RBI and Dallas Stefano is at .300 with a solo shot. Pablo Hernandez is showing his freshman campaign was no fluke as the sophomore is batting .293 with a home run and 15 RBI, while leadoff hitter Joshua Croft is hitting .286 with 13 RBI.
 
STARTING PITCHING
Seth Hubert is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 32.0 innings. Opponents are hitting .155 against the right-hander. Hubert's 4.78 hits per nine innings is 18^th best in the nation and his 0.84 WHIP ranks 21^st. Joining Hubert in the rotation is Wilson, who is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Isaiah Lybarger is 2-1 with 23 punchouts and a 3.92 ERA. Preston Plovanich (2-1) has made three starts and does have a complete game to his name.
 
BULLPEN
Crouch leads the club with two saves and is 1-1 with 12 strikeouts in 8.2 innings (seven appearances). Trey Taylor hasn't allowed an earned run in 6.0 innings and Jako Kelm has seven K's in 5.2 innings. Sebi Palacios, Nick Hutchison, Hunter Lehman and Shane McCarley may see action out of the pen as well.
 
LAST SEASON
The Javelinas took the regular season series 5-2 over the Texans, including winning three of four at Nolan Ryan Field.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Texas A&M-Kingsville leads the all-time series 65-59.
 
ALL-TIME LSC RECORD
The Javelinas are 354-277 in LSC play with two conference championships in the last three seasons.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES OF NOLAN RYAN FIELD
A&M-Kingsville has taken advantage of home field advantage at Nolan Ryan Field, posting a 409-225-1 record in Kingsville.
 
ABOUT THE TEXANS
Tarleton State has compiled a team ERA of 3.56. The rotation of Evan Pontley (4-0, 2.45 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 35.0 innings), Nathan Hickey (4-1, 1.59 ERA, 21 strikeouts in 34.0 innings) and Colby Fowler (2-2, 4.18 ERA, 22 punchouts in 28.0 innings) has combined for 19 starts. Connor Fletcher (3-0, 4.62 ERA), Alex DeBell (1-0, 5.23) and Seth Gill (0-1, 11.25 ERA) each have made at least one start.
 
Eddie Avila is the Texans closer with four saves in 12 appearances. Avila has 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings and a 0.66 ERA.
 
Blake Adams leads the offense with a .356 batting average and eight home runs. Power across multiple spots in the batting order are the strength for TSU with a league-high 31 home runs but the 18 team stolen bases rank last in the LSC.
 
NEXT UP
The nine-game home stand concludes with a single game Thursday, March 30 versus St. Mary's University. The Javelinas defeated the Rattlers in a run-ruled game to end the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park.
 
HOW TO TUNE IN
Live stats, audio and video will be available and can be accessed by visiting JavelinaAthletics.com. 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the six-time Lone Star Conference champions on Twitter (@JavelinaBSB) and Instagram (@JavelinaBSB), and like the /JavelinaBSB Facebook page.