KINGSVILLE, Texas- Coach
Jason Gonzales earned his 400th win at the helm of the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team off an 8-3 victory over the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals in a Saturday Lone Star Conference matchup at Nolan Ryan Field.
JASON GONZALES POSTGAME BRANDON SYMMANK POSTGAME
"It's really humbling, because I get to take credit for a lot of peoples hard work," said coach
Jason Gonzales. "I've had some really good assistant coaches here that have really been dedicated to what we're trying to do, but the bottom line is I've had a lot of great players that have trusted me and bought into what we're trying to do. It's really a credit to the players that I've had here and the assistant coaches..to be apart of that is really humbling at this point."
Redshirt senior
Brandon Symmank (Cypress, Texas) and the Javelinas (17-9, 15-9 LSC) bested the Chaps (20-6, 18-6 LSC), with Symmank earning the win after tossing seven incredible innings in which he struck out 11 and scattered four hits.
"Symmank was just outstanding, that guys fun to watch and he always gives our hitters a chance," Gonzales continued. "Those guys were able to get some big hits with runners in scoring position, something we didn't do the first three games. We we're able to play our style of baseball today, being a lot more aggressive and that's what we needed to do, get off our heels and throw a few punches and we did that.
Sophomore
Colton Taylor (Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada) finished the job for Symmank, closing out the contest with a two-inning save for his fifth of the year, a mark that leads the league. Additionally, Symmank leads the conference in several categories as well, including ERA at 2.00, opponent batting average at .178, and strikeouts looking with 18.
The Javelina bats were out in full force, with senior
Kyler Bumstead (Kountze, Texas), sophomore
Nick Wolff and classmate
Ivan Duarte (Juarez, Mexico) all recording multiple hits.
Strong starting pitching from Symmank and Ty Stephensen kept zero's on the scoreboard until TAMUK broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore
Matthew Castro (Corpus Christi, Texas) worked a one-out walk, before advancing into scoring position on a Bumstead single. Sophomore
Cole Payne (Cuero, Texas) snagged the first RBI of the day, knocking Castro in on a fielders choice ground ball.
The Hogs batted around in the fifth, increasing their lead by four with sophomore
Jake Chapman (Boerne, Texas) plating Wolff on a sacrificed fly ball, before freshman
Ramsey Amador (Edinburg, Texas) crossed the plate on a single by newcomer
Kyle Perales (Hidalgo, Texas). Castro belted a double into left field with runners on the corners clearing the bases and delivering a 5-0 Blue and Gold lead.
LCU got one back in the sixth, before the Javs tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth.
Redshirt sophomore
Jaden Cavazos (Weslaco, Texas) was issued a free pass prompting Payne to bring him home on a double into left. Senior
Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) was plunked putting two on for redshirt sophomore
Jessie Gonzalez (Robstown, Texas), who knocked a pair in with a two-bagger of his own.
LCU earned another run in the ninth and had the bases loaded before Taylor induced a lazy pop-up that met Duarte's glove for the final out of the ballgame.
The Javelinas now turn their attention to the Angelo State Rams, who they will meet Friday, Mar. 25, at 6 p.m. for the first of four LSC matchups in San Angelo, Texas.
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