OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program combined for four home runs in a 14-4 thrashing of Oklahoma Christian on Sunday at Dobson Field to clinch the Lone Star Conference series finale.
"I was proud of the way we competed all weekend," said head coach Jason Gonzales, "and today was our most complete game yet. We got great starting pitching today and the offense applied pressure for seven straight innings.
"It's tough to win a series on the road, especially after losing the first one."
The Javelinas (6-3, 6-3 LSC) blew open a one-run game in the top of the fifth against the Eagles (5-5, 4-5 LSC) and connected for five more runs in the top of the eighth to secure the victory.
Sophomore Steven Bonuz (Port Lavaca, Texas) was responsible for two of the round-trippers hit on the day, with senior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) tacking on one alongside the first career home run from freshman Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas).
It was officially a year to the day the Javelinas recorded four home runs as a team in a game, having done so on the road against St. Mary's on March 7, 2020, in an 8-3 win to split a doubleheader in San Antonio.
The Hogs connected for 16 total hits in the game, the fifth time this year the team recorded over 10 hits and the second consecutive game reaching that mark. Castro and Bonuz both finished with three, matched by redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas), while Spinn and senior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas) both finished with two.
TAMUK got the scoring started in the top of the first after De Leon scored on a passed ball. The lead didn't last long as OC came back with a run in the bottom half of the opening frame after Blake Empkey scored on a fielder's choice grounder to second, knotting the game at one apiece.
Bonuz ripped an RBI double to right center in the second to give the lead back to the Javelinas, as Ullman followed up with a single to left center with two outs later in the stanza to bring Bonuz home. An RBI single to right center from De Leon in the top of the fourth gave the Blue and Gold a three-run lead, which was soon cut down to one after Jaren Hill dropped a two-run single to left center in the bottom of the inning.
Castro's RBI single to center sparked the first five-run rally of the game as the first two batters reached safely in the frame to set up the first run. Senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) ended up at home during the next at bat on a wild pitch, while Bonuz skied the first of his two home runs not long after for an 8-3 advantage.
The final run of the rally came courtesy of a ground ball to first from Ullman, as junior Reid Baty (Laramie, Wyo.) reached on a double to center, stole third, and strolled home on the batted ball.
The hosts got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot to left center from Coleton Hinkle, but it was the last run they would manage in the contest. Newcomer Logan Garza (Round Rock, Texas) was billed as the starting pitcher and turned in seven innings on the bump with eight strikeouts to only five hits and four runs allowed for his first win in the Blue and Gold.
Meanwhile, the second five-run rally in the eighth was ignited by Spinn who drove the two-run shot to straightaway center field as the second batter of the frame. He was matched by Castro four batters later who lifted the pitch out to left with two out, while a pitching change did little to sway the momentum as Bonuz connected for his second homer of the day for a 14-4 advantage.
Junior John Mike Rodriguez (Corpus Christi, Texas) closed out the eight for TAMUK, turning in a 1-2-3 scoreless stanza to end the contest.
The Javelinas return to Nolan Ryan Field this week for the first of three games against St. Mary's. Game one of the Lone Star Conference series is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, March 12.
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