KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville knocked off No. 2/1 Angelo State in dramatic fashion Friday night, as TAMUK came back from two runs down in the ninth as junior Michael Cervantes capped off the comeback with a two-out bases-loaded RBI single up the middle for the walk-off 9-8.
The Javelinas (24-19, 23-18) knocked off the Lone Star Conference leading Rams (33-6, 31-6 LSC) in the ninth by loading the bases before a
Jake Chapman RBI ground out and bases loaded walk against
Jacob Rosales tied the game setting the stage for Cervantes.
The Legue City, Texas native found himself down in the count 1-2, before lacing a fastball up the middle that proved difficult to handle for the Rams' infield as Jaden Cavazos came scoring across the plate as Rosales slid in safely at second before ASU could make a play at the bag sending Nolan Ryan Field into a frenzy.
The top-ranked Rams struck quickly with two runs coming across in the first with a two-out two-run home run to take the lead.
TAMUK cut the early deficit in half in the bottom half of the inning as Ivan Duarte doubled down the left field line scoring Dalton Kramer from second.
ASU answered in the top of the second with an RBI double of their own pushing the lead back to two before pushing it to three in the fourth inning scoring on a wild pitch to take a 4-1 lead.
One inning later, the Rams hit their second home run of the game, leading the fifth inning off with a solo home run to left.
The Hogs refused to go quietly however, as in the bottom of the sixth, Duarte picked up his second RBI of the game with a ground ball to second that scored Colton Allen from third before a Steven Bonuz single to right scored Kramer who doubled earlier in the inning.
Two batters later, Shelby Becker doubled off the left field wall bringing Chapman and Bonuz around to score, tying the game up at five runs apiece.
The Rams promptly took the lead back in the next half inning with a two-out RBI single to left for one run advantage, before another two-RBI triple in the eighth and a wild pitch brought two more runs across pushing the score to 8-5.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Becker doubled down the left field line to open the inning before later scoring on a Cervantes sacrifice fly.
Relief pitcher, Marco Martinez held the Rams scoreless in the top half of the ninth inning as TAMUK trailed by two at 8-6 going into the final frame.
The first three Hogs reached to open the inning juicing the bases with a Kramer walk, Duarte single, and Bonuz walk.
Chapman picked up an RBI single to third as Kramer came across cutting the deficit to just one. The Rams intentionally walked Becker to re-load the bases before Rosales worked a full count walk tying the game at 8-8.
Two batters later and down to his last strike with two outs Cervantes provided the late historics with his walk-off single up the middle.
Martinez (2-2) earned the win on the mound in relief going two and two-thirds innings allowing two runs and four hits with a walk while striking out three Rams.
The Javs and Rams will meet tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. as part of their four game series.
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