LAREDO, Texas- On Friday, The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team took a Lone Star Conference series opener 7-5, with a two-RBI double by junior Michael Cervantes in the top of the 10th propelling the Pack to an extra-innings victory over Texas A&M-International at Jorge Haynes Field.Â
Â
The Javelinas (25-22, 24-23 LSC) rallied from down four runs to beat the Dustdevils (17-26, 16-25 LSC) with a three-run home run by junior Shelby Becker, helping the team come back before Cervantes' double put the squad in front late.Â
Â
Freshman Marco Martinez (3-3) earned the win for TAMUK, throwing the final 3.2 innings and allowing just one hit with a strikeout. Caleb Strmiska (0-2) was dealt the loss as the opposition used five relief pitchers throughout the contest.Â
Â
Cervantes' two-bagger capped off a 4-for-4 day for the utility infielder, while sophomore Jake Chapman, junior Jacob Rosales, and Becker all logged multiple hits.Â
Â
The Dustdevils scored early, knocking in a pair of runs in the first before taking a 3-0 lead in the second. Junior Kobe Jaramillo then tossed two scoreless frames ahead of another TAMIU run in the bottom of the fifth.Â
Â
The Javelinas equalized with four runs in the top of the sixth, following a leadoff double by redshirt sophomore Dalton Kramer. Chapman then knocked him home on a sharply hit ball into center field. Rosales legged out an infield single, and Becker smashed a home run over the wall into left field, knotting the contest 4-4.Â
Â
Jaramillo then worked through the sixth before exiting with six strikeouts on his line. A fielder's choice in the top of the seventh allowed senior Colton Allen to reach base safely, ahead of a walk, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice by redshirt junior Ivan Duarte that plated him and handed the Hogs a 5-4 edge.Â
Â
Sophomore Carter Poulson recorded an out, and Martinez took over in the bottom of the frame with runners on first and second. A batter was plunked, loading the bases ahead of a wild pitch that allowed TAMIU to tie things up, 5-5.
Â
Three scoreless frames followed, sending the squads into extra innings at Jorge Haynes Field.
Â
Becker batted a single with two outs in the top of the tenth, and junior Garrett Thompson was walked, putting two runners on for Cervantes. The League City, Texas native then dropped a double into center field, scoring the pair and delivering a 7-5 lead.Â
Â
TAMIU threatened with a pair of base runners in the bottom half, but Martinez clamped down, inducing a fly out to secure the Blue and Gold victory.Â
Â
The teams will meet again for a Saturday doubleheader with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. ahead of a 1 p.m. series finale on Sunday at Jorge Haynes Field.Â
Â
Stay up-to-date with everything Javelina baseball atÂ
JavelinaAthletics.com, follow the program on TwitterÂ
@JavelinaBSB, and see recent news on Facebook atÂ
/JavelinaBSB.Â
Â
Â