TYLER, Texas - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the Lone Star Conference opening game against No. 24 UT Tyler on Thursday at Irwin Field, but surrendered seven runs in the bottom of the fifth and could not recover in the 8-3 loss.
The Javelinas (13-7, 12-7 LSC) held the Patriots (17-7, 16-6 LSC) scoreless through the first four frames before the momentum shifted in the fifth.
Freshman Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas) started the scoring for the visitors with a one-out single down the left field line that plated classmate Damian Rodriguez (McAllen, Texas) and senior Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) in the top of the second. Rodriguez and Buendia led the stanza off with back-to-back singles and advanced to scoring position on the next at bat before Castro brought them home.
Redshirt junior Brandon Symmank (Cypress, Texas) worked out of a jam in the bottom of the third after UTT loaded the bases with nobody out. He got some help on a line drive hit right at Rodriguez covering the hot corner, who stepped on the bag to double up the runner at third for two outs, while a fly ball to center was summarily gloved by senior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) to end the threat.
Junior Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) added another run in the top of the fifth when he bounced an RBI single through the right side for redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas). Ullman started the frame with a single back up the middle and stole second ahead of Servin's base hit.
The Patriots ignited their seven-run rally in the home half of the fifth on a single to left from Cade Watson. A Riley Jepson single to right capped two more while Jordan Gochenour brought in the next two on another single into right.
A sacrifice fly from Tommy Tolve added the sixth run, while the seventh came on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch issued to Edward Ortiz, setting the deficit at four for the Javelinas.
The final run of the contest crossed home in the sixth after an errant throw to first off a dropped third strike allowed Jepson to score. The Hogs had a few more opportunities to cut into the deficit but stranded six runners in the final four innings en route to the loss.
Castro and Servin both finished with two hits, with the former adding two RBI to the latter's one.
Game two of the league series is set for 6 p.m. CT at Irwin Field on Friday, April 2.
Get the Official Javelina Athletics Mobile App presented by Whataburger today! Download on the App Store or Get It on Google Play to keep up with all the news, scores, and updates of your favorite Javelinas
Watch your Javelinas live on the Javelina Sports Network presented by Mendoza's Pharmacy. Stay up-to-date with everything Javelina baseball at JavelinaAthletics.com, follow the program on Twitter @JavelinaBSB and see recent news on Facebook at /JavelinaBSB
-JAVELINAS-
