KINGSVILLE, Texas - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program will return to Nolan Ryan Field this weekend for a four-game series against Missouri-St. Louis starting on Friday.

The Javelinas are fresh off a series win over regional foe St. Mary's following a three-game set in San Antonio the previous week. TAMUK dropped game one at 8-4 before taking the Saturday doubleheader sweep at 10-7 and 6-3 behind a pair of three-inning saves from redshirt junior Alex Canul (Edinburg, Texas) on the front end and senior transfer Eric Sandoz (Austin, Texas) on the back end.

Sophomore Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) led the offensive at the plate with a .545 clip behind a pair of three-hit games. The Edinburg North H.S. product pushed three runs across in the series, scored twice and stole one base before he was named the Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week for his efforts.

Servin is currently second on the team with a .355 batting average through nine games. He sits behind redshirt senior Manny Loredo (McAllen, Texas) who is hitting at a blistering .455 pace with 15 hits in 33 at bats, adding two doubles and a pair of longshots for a .697 slugging percentage.

Loredo has also drawn six walks for a .525 on-base percentage alongside three stolen bases.

The Javelina pitching staff appears to have found their identity following the weekend of play as Canul leads the team with two saves, while Sandoz and redshirt freshman Jacob Vasquez (Victoria, Texas) each have one.

Senior Preston Plovanich (Santa Fe, Texas) is currently tops on the rotation with 18 punchouts on the year through 16 innings pitched, compiling a 3.38 ERA in the process, while junior Zach Boyett (Robinson, Texas) is the other starter with a healthy ERA at 3.27 in two appearances.

The Tritons dropped their first three games of the regular season in the MIAA/GLVC Challenge as they suffered a 6-2 loss to Northwest Missouri State, a 10-7 setback to Missouri Southern and a narrow 7-6 defeat at the hands of Washburn to round out the week of play.

UMSL has managed a .212 clip at the plate but features a .455 mark from Andrew Hayden who has sent one ball over the fence out of his five hits in 11 at bats. No other Triton has a batting average over .250 on the year to date.

The starting rotation has surrendered six earned runs in 12 innings pitched, with Ryan Siverly and Holden Mayberry leading the way with a 3.00 ERA each. The bullpen has been hit-or-miss with five hurlers owning a 0.00 ERA through a combined 9 and 2/3 innings pitched, while the other half has given up 10 earned runs in 3 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Game one of the series is set for Friday, February 22, with first pitch at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. CT, while Sunday's finale has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT.

Stay up-to-date with everything Javelina baseball at JavelinaAthletics.com, follow the program on Twitter @JavelinaBSB and see recent news on Facebook at /JavelinaBSB

-JAVELINAS-