KINGSVILLE, Texas- On Friday, the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team split with UT Permian Basin, first falling to the Falcons 13-6 before recovering and taking game two 5-1, as senior Luis Martinez picked up his second win in as many days. 

The Javelinas (12-9, 11-8 LSC) split with the Falcons (8-11, 8-11 LSC) to guarantee at least a series split, thanks in large part to powerful pitching performances from L. Martinez and freshman Marco Martinez, as well as a junior Nick Wolff home run. 

"I've always enjoyed the fight that these guys have and the character that they have, said coach Jason Gonzales after his team bounced back in game two. "I never worried about them fighting back and responding as we talk about all the time because, again, that's the most important thing you'll ever do. But what I told them after this game is at some point, we've got to force somebody else to respond. We can't just sit around and go through the motions from game one and then get ready to play game two. We kind of got off to a bad start, but these guys got a lot of fight in them, and we saw that in game two."

Game One  

TAMUK fell 13-6 in game one, as Cade Pollard (2-0) picked up the win for the Falcons, while junior Colton Taylor (3-2) was issued the loss. 

UTPB used a potent top of the first to propel themselves to victory, plating six with four coming courtesy of an Ethan Babcock-Barrie grand slam. The Javelinas did get one back in the bottom of the frame, as redshirt junior Ivan Duarte stepped up and delivered an RBI single with the bases loaded. The bases remained juiced as Pollard entered for UTPB and induced a pair of strikeouts ending the inning with a 6-1 score favoring the Falcons.

UTPB scored two more in the second, and the Javelinas responded as junior Michael Cervantes was plunked to open the stanza. He advanced to second on a sac-bunt and later scored on a sharply hit single by senior Steven Bonuz. Bonuz then dented the plate as he and Wolff came around and scored on a double by sophomore Jake Chapman. 

The Falcons tacked on another run in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, putting the Javelinas down 13-5 entering the final frame. Senior Colton Allen was issued a free pass and came around to score on a sac fly by Chapman before UTPB found the third out for a 13-6 final score.

Game Two

A dominant performance by L. Martinez (3-0) saw the Grulla, Texas native pick up his third win of the year after he scattered two hits across four innings that featured seven strikeouts. M. Martinez (1) worked a three-inning save for his first as a Javelina, keeping the Falcons off the base paths and fanning four. UTPB starter Parker Goin (0-2) was chased early, resulting in a loss. 

Wolff used a solo home run in the top of the first to put the Pack on the scoreboard before singles by Chapman and Duarte resulted in a pair of runners for redshirt sophomore Ramsey Amador, who delivered a bases-clearing double and a 3-0 Blue and Gold lead. 

UTPB threatened in the top of the second with a walk and a double putting runners in scoring position, but L. Martinez clamped down, striking out the next two batters and inducing a lazy fly ball to record his 13th consecutive scoreless inning. 

The Falcons broke through in the top of the third, as Mason Hamlin crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the team's lone run of the contest. From there, L. Martinez and M. Martinez shut down UTPB, keeping them off the base paths for the remainder of the game. 

TAMUK got the run back in the bottom of the third, with Duarte slapping a single and swiping second, ahead of a double by redshirt sophomore Hayden Johnson that saw a 4-1 Javelina lead. 

A leadoff triple by junior Garrett Thompson helped the Hogs pick up another insurance run, as he dented the plate on a Falcon miscue for a 5-1 final score. 

The teams will face each other once more on Sunday, with the Javelinas eyeing a series victory at Nolan Ryan Field with first pitch set for 1 p.m. 

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