KINGSVILLE, Texas - After taking the series opener, the Javelinas and the Buffaloes met once more at Nolan Ryan Field for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Both games were decided by only one run each, with game two even going to extra innings, but the Buffs managed to sneak away with both wins and sweep the afternoon.
The Javelinas (3-2, LSC 2-5) fall behind 2-1 in the series with the Buffaloes (6-1, LSC 6-1) after winning the first game in the series on Friday.
GAME ONE
The Buffaloes struck first to open the afternoon, scoring one run apiece in the second, third, and fourth innings off a few walks and a string of singles to make the score 3-0.
The Javelina offense finally got clicking in the fifth inning. A
Michael Cervantes single set up a RBI triple from
Ramsey Amador two batters later, who himself was brought home next by a sacrifice fly from
MJ Rodriguez to cut the deficit to one run.
Though the Hogs kept the Buffs off the board for the rest of the game, the Javelinas could not get a run across the plate either, only managing one base runner in the last two innings as West Texas took game one, 3-2.
Picking up for loss for TAMUK was
Colton Taylor (0-2) while Matt Milner was credited with the win.Â
GAME TWO
To open game two, this time the Javelinas were the first to strike getting one run on the board in the second inning.
Jacob Rosales reached base on a walk before stealing second to get himself in scoring position. Amador made good on the situation, picking up his second RBI on the afternoon off a single to left field.
West Texas struck back to even the score in the fifth inning before the Javelinas responded in kind to regain the lead.
Vincent Sanchez was the first base runner for the Hogs off a single, making his way to third base with help from a sacrifice bunt from
Colton Allen and a balk. Sanchez was brought across the plate thanks to a fielding error at first base off a
Garrett Thompson hit, bringing the score to 2-1.
Like the Javelinas, the Buffaloes responded immediately themselves, scoring two in the sixth inning to take the lead, 3-2. After being held scoreless in the sixth, the Hogs came through in the clutch. With two outs,
Dalton Kramer brought himself home on a wild pitch to even the score at the last moment and give the crowd free baseball.
Both teams were scoreless through the eighth and ninth innings before the Buffs finally broke the deadlock in the tenth inning with one run. The Javelinas seemed poised to respond once more and even threaten to win, loading the bases with only two outs. However, West Texas struck out the next two men up, getting themselves out of an extremely tight situation and take game two.
Justice Hayes (1-0) gained credit for the win for WT while
Sergio Lopez (0-2) is pegged with the loss. Tai Phetluangsy also picks up a save.
The Javelinas and the Buffaloes will meet one more time to close out the series, squaring up on Sunday, Feb. 11 with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
