Laredo, TX - Texas A&M-Kingsville took both double-header games against Texas A&M-International at Jorge Haynes Field on Saturday.
The Javelinas (22-19, 21-18 LSC) won a wild, 7-4, 12 innings battle against the Dustdevils (11-26, 10-25 LSC) before blanking the TAMUI bats in the second game, winning 2-0. The pair of wins now get the Javelinas within striking distance of the postseason with nine games to go for the Hogs.
Game one, originally scheduled as a seven-inning game, would become the longest game the Javelinas have played this season thus far. After going up 2-0 thanks to a pair of RBI's from
Maurice Martinez and
Vincent Sanchez, TAMUI scored four runs in three innings thanks to two Javelina errors to retake the lead.Â
Needing a late rally in the seventh,
Damian Carreon would get the Javelinas going with a double after
Jacob Cueva reached on an error. Two RBI's from Martinez and
Javier Benavides would tie the game as
Daniel Cardona shut down the Dustdevils to push the game into extra innings.
The Javelinas would have their chances to end the game early, as multiple batters would get into scoring position but could not be cashed in for the Javelinas. Things became dicey in the bottom of the ninth, as two runners would get on aboard for TAMUI. A single from the Dustdevils would send a runner home, but a tremendous throw from
Joshua Endo got the game-winning run out at home to keep the Hogs alive.
It would not be until the twelfth that the Javelinas would blow the game wide open. A single and a double from Endo and
Easton Hewitt got two aboard as
Isaiah Aguilar eventually loaded the bases. Reyes became the hero of the game, as his bases clearing double got three runs across to take the lead.
Ulises Quiroga would then send the next three batter packing to finish off TAMUI.
Game two featured less dramatics compared to game one, but the Hogs still came out to play.
Tyler Schumann would get the start and threw an absolute gem of a game. The redshirt-freshman from Fulshear threw a complete-game shutout with three K's and allowed just three batters on base.Â
Still needing some offense late in the ballgame, it was once against Reyes who came to the rescue, powering the first run of the game across home plate with an RBI-single. Carreon would get another one across with an RBI of his own in the sixth to give the Hogs a late 2-0 lead. Schumann continued his excellent game all the way to the finish line as the Hogs powered through the Dustdevils.
Texas A&M-Kingsville looks to get the series sweep against Texas A&M-International Sunday at 1:00 pm from Laredo. Fans of the Javelinas can watch live on FloCollege or follow the game at JavelinaBSB on Twitter.
