KINGSVILLE, Texas - Using two home runs from redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas), the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program claimed its fifth Lone Star Conference series win to start the season with a 10-5 final score over Lubbock Christian at Hays Field on Sunday.
Ullman also ignited the four-run, ninth-inning rally that gave the Javelinas some insurance heading into the final half-inning against the Chaps (7-11, 6-9 LSC). In total, the Houston native was one of five Hogs to finish with multiple hits and one of two with multiple RBI.
A fielder's choice groundout in the top of the second started the scoring for TAMUK as senior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas) gave freshman Damian Rodriguez (McAllen, Texas) enough breathing room for a 1-0 lead. The hosts had the response ready in the bottom half of the frame, however, after Nolan Machibroda found a gap on the right half of the infield to score Mason Donohoe.
Ullman posted the first of his two home runs in the top of the third as he lifted the second offering from Armando Valle over the left field wall, his first of the season. Donohoe came right back in the next at bat with a two-run double to left center to give LCU a 3-2 lead going into the fourth.
The second round-tripper from Ullman came in the top of the fifth as he worked a 3-1 count and ripped the fifth pitch of the at bat down the left field line to tie the game. The Hogs added one more in the stanza after Rodriguez dropped a single into left center to plate junior Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) for the 4-3 cushion.
Like clockwork, the Chaps came right back in the bottom of the frame and used an RBI double to right center from George Mendazona to knot the game at four apiece, but the Javelinas took ahold of the lead for good in the top of the sixth after senior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the inning and was followed by an LCU miscue that allowed Ullman to score for a 6-4 lead.
The hosts got one of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot to left center from Grant Griffin before both pitching staffs settled into a rhythm for the next two innings.
The Javelinas finally broke through in the top of the ninth after freshman Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas) led off with a single to right and was matched by a single to center from De Leon in the next at bat.
A four-pitch walk issued to newcomer Garrett Thompson (New Braunfels, Texas) loaded the bases with nobody out and, after an infield fly to third base, Ullman brought the first insurance run home on a groundball to the short stop.
Spinn followed up by bouncing the first pitch he saw through the left half of the diamond to score the next two runs and ended up at home for the fourth run of the rally on a double down the left field line from Servin.
Senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) took over on the hill in the ninth and retired the Chaps in order for the series clincher.
Junior Kolby Lunsford (Helotes, Texas) started on the bump and turned in 4.1 innings with two strikeouts for the no-decision. Sophomore Matthew Sesler (Harlingen, Texas) was given the keys in the fifth and struck out one over the next 1.2 innings to pick up his second win of the year.
Junior Tyler Flores (San Antonio, Texas) was slotted in for the seventh and eighth innings, allowing only one hit and added a strikeout in that span, ahead of Buendia's effort in the ninth.
The Javelinas have a short turnaround until their next game as they host Texas A&M International on Tuesday, March 23, for a midweek matchup at Nolan Ryan Field starting at 6 p.m. CT.
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