KINGSVILLE, Texas - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program was even with top-ranked Angelo State midway through Saturday's contest at Nolan Ryan Field but fell behind late and never recovered for a 7-3 loss in the second game of the Lone Star Conference series.
The Javelinas (12-6, 11-6 LSC) rallied for two runs in the home half of the fifth on a squeeze bunt and a single to left, but gave both runs back in the top of the sixth to the Rams (17-2, 12-2 LSC) and missed on a bases-loaded opportunity in the next half inning en route to the decision.
ASU struck first in the game's opening frame with an RBI single from Nick Seginowich and added the next two on a passed ball and an RBI triple to left from Koby Kelton. The Hogs got one back in the bottom of the stanza with a sacrifice fly from freshman Damian Rodriguez (McAllen, Texas) that plated redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas) for a 3-1 score going into the second.
Junior Logan Garza (Round Rock, Texas) settled into a rhythm despite the struggle in the first and struck out eight over the course of 5.1 innings to only three hits as he received his first loss. He kept the potent Ram lineup in check through the fifth before running into trouble in the sixth that ended with a swap to classmate Mason Foster (Dilley, Texas).
TAMUK, meanwhile, rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth after freshman Garrett Thompson (New Braunfels, Texas) put down the squeeze bunt with senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) standing on third with one out. Buendia scampered home on the live ball for the first run, while an RBI single dropped into left scored freshman Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas) to knot the score at three apiece.
The visitor's sixth inning started with a groundout to second before three walks loaded the bases for Thomas Cain. The pitching change did little to stymie the momentum as Cain was plunked for the tie-breaking run while a fielder's choice grounder to second brought Kelton home for the 5-3 lead.
The prime opportunity for the hosts to get the lead back came in the bottom of the sixth after the first three Javelinas reached safely for senior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas). Unfortunately, De Leon went down on strikes and a tailor-made double play on the next batter squelched the attempt.
One final chance awaited the Hogs in the bottom of the seventh after Thompson reached on a single for senior Cameron Melcher (Kerrville, Texas) with one out. The Midland College transfer roped a double down the right field which started the scramble around the bases for Thompson who got the green light around third but was thrown out on the 9-3-2 relay to the plate.
ASU added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth and the Javelinas got a leadoff walk from De Leon in the bottom of the ninth, but any hope of a last-second push was quickly squashed with a groundball double play to end the game.
Senior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) finished with two hits in the contests, matched by Melcher who had the Hogs' lone extra-base knock with his double.
The Javelinas look to avoid the sweep on Sunday, March 28, with first pitch of the series finale set for 1 p.m. CT at Nolan Ryan Field.
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