STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The No. 14 Texas A&M University-Kingsville baseball program was caught in a pair of close contests on Saturday at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex against Tarleton State, but couldn't find the late-inning magic en route to a pair of losses.
The Javelinas (19-7, 0-3 LSC) surrendered a late surge to the Texans (18-9, 3-0 LSC) in the opening game before taking the loss at 12-1 and were handed their first series loss in a month following a 2-0 loss in the second half of the doubleheader.
GAME ONE
Both sides were locked in a pitcher's duel through four innings on the frontend of the doubleheader as the Texans held a 1-0 advantage over the Javelinas heading into the fifth.
The Hogs got the leadoff runner aboard in the top half of the stanza before the hosts worked out of the inning and opened the floodgates in the bottom half of the frame.
TAMUK retired the first two Tarleton State batters in the bottom of the fifth before a two-run home run from Francisco Rodriguez started the rally.
TSU put the line score at 6-0 before a Javelina miscue extended the at bat and allowed the Texans to add six more runs to their total, putting the overall tally at 12-0 heading into the sixth.
The Hogs loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh after junior
Manny Loredo (McAllen, Texas) capped sophomore
Brad Jones (Crandall, Texas) to get the visitors on the board, but Nathan Hickey closed his complete game with a pair of strikeouts to give TAMUK its second loss of the series.
GAME TWO
The backend of Saturday's twofer was yet another pitcher's duel as redshirt-senior
Lee May Gonzalez (Corpus Christi, Texas) scattered five hits over five innings of work while TSU owned the 2-0 lead following the third inning.
The Hogs ran into the buzz saw that was Evan Pontley as the Texan held TAMUK's bats to two hits over the course of the second game and kept the visitor line score empty through six innings.
The Javelinas got the leadoff runner aboard in the seventh inning before Pontley got two fly balls and one pop up to end the game.
TAMUK will have one more opportunity to salvage a win in the series as game four of the Lone Star matchup will take place on Sunday, March 25, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. CT at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex.
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