KINGSVILLE, Texas- The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team is slated to host St. Mary's for four Lone Star Conference contests at Nolan Ryan Field, with game one set for 6 p.m. on Friday, ahead of a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and the series finale Sunday.Â
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The Javelinas (19-15, 18-14 LSC) will take on the Rattlers (15-15, 13-15 LSC) after picking up back-to-back series victories over Arkansas-Fort Smith and Oklahoma Christian.Â
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Last time out, TAMUK took three from the Eagles, putting up 40 runs and allowing just 13. Junior Nick Wolff provided the bulk of the offense, going 8-for-15 with a double, a triple, and two home runs. He maintained a .533 batting average, driving in eight runs and crossing the plate himself four times. Additionally, he posted a stellar 1.721 OPS and had a perfect fielding percentage.
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Classmate Shelby Becker was also solid, using nine hits and four RBIs to post a team-high .600 batting average, while redshirt junior Ivan Duarte drove in eight runs.
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On the mound, junior Kobe Jaramillo struck out eight and allowed one run across eight frames in the series opener as he, senior Luis Martinez, and sophomore Karson Shepard picked up wins.Â
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TAMUK sits fifth in the LSC standings and StMU seventh in a crowded field that will see the top-eight teams crack the postseason. Just three more conference opponents await, and as a part of their playoff push, the Rattlers won three games against Texas A&M-International, ahead of a nonconference victory over Our Lady of the Lake.Â
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Clay Bradford has been red-hot at the dish, holding a .420 batting average that ranks fourth in the LSC and a 1.181 OPS. Bradford also paces the team in home runs with six and RBIs with 26. Jake Mares joins Bradford as the only position player to start all 30 games, with Mares holding a solid .333 batting average. StMU enjoys their small ball posting the eight-most sac-bunts in the nation. Defensively, the middle infield combo of Mares and Jacob Elizondo have been stellar, turning 24 double plays for the third-highest total in the league.
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Bradford also features in the Rattler rotation, with the Atascocita, Texas native, holding a 5.06 ERA with a 3-3 record. John Curtis and Bradford have been the main fixtures, as Curtis has gone 2-2 with a 1.42 WHIP. 10 other StMU hurlers have started games in 2023, but Andrew Girod has been a staple out of the pen with a team-high nine appearances and the third-most saves in the LSC with four. Girod also has the squad's best ERA at 1.74 and boasts a 0.92 WHIP.Â
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