KINGSVILLE, Texas - Senior outfielder Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) was responsible for only one hit in the 2021 Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship series opener against Lubbock Christian on Friday at Nolan Ryan Field, but it was the hit that mattered most as he lifted the go-ahead grand slam for Texas A&M-Kingsville in the bottom of the eighth for a thrilling 9-5 win.
JASON GONZALES POSTGAME INTERVIEW | SETH SPINN POSTGAME INTERVIEW
The Javelinas (21-10) jumped out to an early lead on the Chaps (19-22) in the bottom of the first but gave the lead up by the seventh inning before Spinn's round-tripper in the eighth went in as the decisive moment.
TAMUK loaded the bases for the senior transfer from Temple College after classmate Aldo Buendia (Laredo, Texas) started the inning with a single to center on the second offering from Peyton Hutson.
After Buendia was moved over on a sacrifice bunt, back-to-back walks issued to freshman Garrett Thompson (New Braunfels, Texas) and redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas) set the stage for Spinn who saw the first pitch go by as a strike followed immediately by two pitches out of the zone.
The fourth pitch ended right in his wheelhouse as Spinn cranked the 2-1 toss over the right-center wall past the 375-foot sign, propelling the Hogs ahead 9-5 going into the ninth.
It appeared as if the Javelinas wouldn't need late-game heroics, much like they have in recent weeks, as Spinn sparked the rally in the first with a sacrifice fly to center to score Thompson. Redshirt junior Will Arnold (Magnolia, Texas) added the next run with an RBI groundout that plated Ullman, while a two-run jack from sophomore Steven Bonuz (Port Lavaca, Texas) pushed the lead to four heading into the second.
It was Bonuz's first at-bat at Nolan Ryan Field since March 13 against St. Mary's, also the last time the product from Calhoun High School turned in a home run for the Blue and Gold.
TAMUK tacked on another run in the fifth following an LCU miscue before the visitors finally broke through in the sixth. Junior hurler Logan Garza (Round Rock, Texas) got the start for the Hogs and pitched five scoreless innings before giving up all four of his runs in the sixth.
The Chaps got the first on an infield single and Javelina error as George Mendazona came home on the blunder for the first run. Another infield single to third base from Caden Hensley got caught in the glove of freshman Damian Rodriguez (McAllen, Texas) who was unable to send the ball over to first for the out as Larry Leitha crossed the plate luckily enough.
A wild pitch granted Edgar Hernandez access to the plate on the walk issued to Colin Gordon, while a double steal from Nolan Machibroda and Hensley trimmed the lead to one heading to the seventh. Garza finished his day with 10 strikeouts but issued six walks and allowed four hits for the no-decision.
Luis Navarro tied the game up single-handedly in the seventh with two outs and two strikes after he roped a pitch from junior Mason Foster (Dilley, Texas) to left field for a 5-5 count.
The Hogs were unable to get the lead back in the seventh before loading up the bases in the eighth. It was the third time in the game the hosts loaded the bases with less than two outs, having done so in the third and fourth frames, and both times prior got squelched by inning-ending double plays.
Spinn ensured the third time was the charm as his lone hit of the night became the one that mattered.
Game two of the best-of-three series is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, at Nolan Ryan Field. If necessary, game three will take place approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game two.
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