OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program was stuck in a battle with Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at Dobson Field but ended on top by the time the dust had settled in a 14-13 win in the second game of the Lone Star Conference series.
"I'm extremely proud of the way we responded today after a loss last night," said head coach Jason Gonzales. "We had chances to fold because things weren't going our way, but we engaged in the confrontation and never let up."
The Javelinas (5-3, 5-3 LSC) struck first in the contest but had to erase a three-run deficit late in the game to take the win from the Eagles (5-4, 4-4 LSC).
Senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) had a hand in every phase of the game as he was perfect in five trips to the plate with four hits and a walk for three RBI and three runs scored. He also took to the mound in the seventh and pitched the final 2.2 innings on the hill with four strikeouts for his first career win.
TAMUK got on the board in the top of the first after senior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas) scored on a groundball from classmate Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas). OC got the run back, and then some, in the bottom half of the frame after Blake Empkey skied a solo shot to right with one out and was one-upped by Chance Westervel who ripped a two-run shot to right three batters later.
Buendia knotted the game in the top of the second with a two-run double down the left field line, while De Leon put the Hogs ahead in the fourth with an RBI groundout that plated sophomore Steven Bonuz (Port Lavaca, Texas).
The Eagles scored three runs in the fifth to take the lead back as Michael DiFiore started the rally with a single to center. He was followed by a Javelina miscue that allowed him to score, while Grant Lake brought the third run home on another single to center.
The visitors responded in kind in the next at bat with a four-run rally ignited by a double steal that allowed freshman Damian Rodriguez (McAllen, Texas) to score after an errant throw on the runner behind him. A bases-loaded walk issued to redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas) pushed the next run home, while two crossed on a double to left center from Spinn.
The bottom of the sixth saw the hosts load the bases and push one run home on a walk to Austin McCain before a grand slam from Westervel cleared every base for an 11-8 Javelina deficit.
TAMUK tied the contest in its next at bat after Rodriguez scored on another Eagle miscue coming off a fielder's choice ground ball. Buendia followed up with a single poked into right for the 10th run, and he ended up tying the game later in the inning on a single to center from De Leon.
The Hogs took back the lead for good in the eight when a double to left from freshman Garrett Thompson (New Braunfels, Texas) set the score at 12-11. Two insurance runs came home in the top of the ninth after Spinn ripped a two-out triple to center to score Buendia and scored in the next at bat after junior Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) reached on an infield single to third.
Those two runs proved crucial as Jaren Hill skied a two-run home run to left to set the score at 14-13 with two outs. The tying runner ended up aboard after Westervel reached on a single in the following trip to the plate but Buendia ended the rally as he caught Lake looking at strike three.
The Javelinas wrap up their series with the Eagles on Sunday, March 7, with first pitch at 1 p.m. CT at Dobson Field.
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