KINGSVILLE, Texas: The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team is headed to Tyler, Texas, to take on UT Tyler in a four-game Lone Star Conference series that begins on Friday at 7 p.m. at Irwin Field at UT Tyler Ballpark.
Following the series opener, the teams will meet again Saturday, with a 3 p.m. doubleheader ahead of the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Javelinas (12-10, 11-9 LSC) will take on the No. RV Patriots (13-7, 13-7 LSC), who have received national recognition following a split with No. 2 Angelo State as well as a series victory over Texas A&M-International.
TAMUK is coming off a weekend split with UTPB, which saw multiple strong performances by senior Luis Martinez that landed him LSC and NCBWA Pitcher of the Week accolades. First, Martinez appeared in relief, picking up the victory thanks to four strikeouts without allowing a hit over the final two frames. Just a day later, he started on the bump and logged a win, fanning seven over the first four innings of the contest.
The Patriots rank highly in several statistical categories, including walks, where they sit sixth on the national leader board, and in home runs, with 30 on the season slotting them ninth. Additionally, the squad has turned 17 double plays for the fifth most in DII.
Nobody in the LSC has swiped more bags than Carson Cox, who's stolen 11, while Lane Hutchinson leads the team with a .447 batting average, with Ethan Bedgood not far behind at .410. Hutchinson and Austin Ochoa tie for the team's best home run total, each launching seven longballs on the year.
The Patriot pitching staff holds a 6.51 ERA and boasts four different pitchers with multiple wins on the year, including Garrett Arenado and Logan Henderson, who have accomplished the feat despite only appearing out of the bullpen.
Martinez and junior Colton Taylor each posted three wins for the Javelinas, while the pair and classmate Kobe Jaramillo have all logged complete game shutouts and won pitcher of the week honors.
At the dish, junior Nick Wolff continues to pace the team with seven home runs and a 1.210 OPS, while Wolff, senior Steven Bonuz, and redshirt sophomore Hayden Johnson have all driven in 20-plus runs.
