ODESSA, Texas (Baseball) – From the nine hole, Dax McCleary finished 2-for-4 with a career-high six RBI in #RV Texas A&M University-Kingsville's (26-10, 11-2 LSC) 14-9 victory over the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (8-30, 1-12 LSC) Friday afternoon at Roden Field.
 
The win is the sixth consecutive victory for the Javelinas and keeps TAMUK atop the Lone Star Conference standings.
 
Every Javelina reached base safely. Pablo Hernandez and Hunter Perkins tallied two hits, two runs and two RBI apiece, and Alex Gonzalez, Alec Kana and Christian Caudle each collected two hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
What a start to the game as A&M-Kingsville tallied four runs on two hits in the top of the first to chase starter Logan Owens out of the game. Patience was the story early with two walks and hit by pitches. Hernandez followed with an RBI single and Perkins drove in two on a base knock to force the pitching change.
 
All in all, the first seven hitters reached base safely prior to the first out of the leadoff frame. The inning continued with the dagger coming off the bat of McCleary, who legged out a bases clearing triple to make it 7-0 TAMUK as the Hogs batted around to begin the ballgame.
 
It was 8-0 and Seth Hubert, who entered the series opener 7-1, took the hill 30-plus minutes after the national anthem.
 
The Falcons rallied from the 8-0 deficit to make it 8-6 with two runs in the first and four in the third. A bases loaded walk to McCleary in the fourth extended the Javelina lead to three but UTPB tied the game at 9 with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
A&M-Kingsville regained the lead in the top of the fifth, collecting two runs, beginning with an RBI double by Caudle and in the following inning, McClearly drove in two on a single to make it 13-9 Javelinas.
 
With two outs in the seventh, an insurance run came around to score as Perkins, who doubled, was plated on Kana's two-bagger.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORD
Hubert picked up the no-decision in 2.2 innings. Nick Masarik improved to 3-0 with seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings out of the pen. Bryce Gibson fell to 2-2 after allowing four runs – one earned – in 2.0 innings.
NEXT UP
The Javelinas and Falcons continue the series with a double dip tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live stats will be available on 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.