LAREDO, Texas - Finally taking to the diamond after three weeks on the bench, the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program faced Texas A&M International in the 2021 season opener on Friday at Jorge Haynes Field and ended up on the back end of a 12-6 decision in Lone Star Conference action.

"Disappointing start for the season," said head coach Jason Gonzales. "We did not play up to our standards. We will need to put it behind us quickly and look to even it up tomorrow."

The Javelinas (0-1, 0-1 LSC) were knotted up heading into the bottom of the sixth before the Dustdevils (3-4, 3-4 LSC) tacked on five runs in the stanza and handed out the loss.

Jerry Villareal started the scoring for the hosts as he lifted a pitch off newcomer Logan Garza (Round Rock, Texas) to center field in the top of the first for the early edge. A double down the left field line from Luis Flores set the score at 2-0 heading into the second.

The Dustdevils chased Garza with one out in the second as Gonzales tabbed junior Kolby Lunsford (Helotes, Texas) to close out the inning. Lunsford ended up with the loss on his record as he threw four innings on the hill and struck out five while allowing five runs, three earned.

Senior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) put the Hogs on the board in the top of the fourth with a leadoff solo shot to left for his first of three hits on the day. His single, combined with a triple in the right center gap from classmate Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas) put the Javelinas up 3-2 heading into the bottom half of the fifth.

TAMIU took the lead back with a two-run jack to left from Brock Hargen in the home at bat, but TAMUK had the response in the top of the sixth with an RBI single from freshman Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas) that drove in senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) for a 4-4 score going into the bottom of the inning.

The sixth ended up a pivotal frame for the Dustdevils as they cobbled together five runs on five hits for a 9-4 edge. Ronnie Bailey started the rally with a single to center, followed by an RBI single from Flores, a two-run liner from Phillip Sanchez and a sacrifice fly from Hargens.

TAMIU tacked on two more in the seventh with a two-run single from Flores out to left field, summarily matched by the Javelinas in the top of the eighth with an RBI groundout from Ullman and an infield single from Spinn that capped senior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas).

The hosts added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and the Hogs ended up with runners at first and second in the top of the ninth before Zach Pena secured the win with a strikeout.

Spinn finished 3-for-4 from the plate with a home run and three RBI. De Leon, Ullman, Buendia and Castro, meanwhile, each ended with two hits as the Javelinas finished with 12 as a team.

Game two of the series is set for 2:30 p.m. CT at Jorge Haynes Field on Sunday, February 21.

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