Kingsville - Head Coach
Jason Gonzales secured his historic 500th career win as the Javelinas split double-header-Saturday against UT-Tyler from Nolan Ryan Field.
Gonzales became the first coach in Texas A&M-Kingsville history to reach the five-century mark as the Javelinas (8-5, 8-5 LSC) got an all-important game one victory over the Patriots in 2-0 fashion. UT-Tyler denied Gonzales and the Hogs win number 501 however, as they came back to take game two 5-4 in extra innings.
Game 1:
True-freshman
Zachary Wright would get called to the mound to start for the Hogs for his first career start. Wright was nothing short of spectacular from the bump, tossing 5.2 shutout innings while scattering just three hits and two walks across that time. Wright would strike out three batters and force a pair of double-plays to blank the Patriots as well.
The Javelinas bats however were not fairing as well as the defense, as they could muster just three hits across five innings while notching just a single walk. The bottom of the sixth would be where the offense came alive however, as consecutive hits from
Landon Salinas and
Nick Reyes put two aboard as they were then advanced by
Joshua Prado taking a pitch on the foot to lead the bags.
Nathan Gamez then sent one deep to center and sacrificed his bat for the first RBI of the game, which would then get added to after Reyes stole home before the third out could be counted.
Needing just three outs to even up the series, the Javelinas turned to their ace
Tyler Schumann to get the final three outs. Schumann did not start of the inning strong, as three-straight batters would reach with not one single out being counted to put Schumann in a dire position. The reigning LSC Freshman of the year got to work however, striking out the first batter before another out came in with a foul-out to give the Hogs that all-important second out. Schumann then got the UT-Tyler pinch hitter swinging to end game one and get out of a massive spot.
Game 2:
Schumann would get the call to start game two, however he would not fare as well as he would in the first game. He would go just 1.1 innings while surrendering three earned runs to put the Hogs down early.
Xando Castillo would get called on to the mound in relief, lasting three full innings while allowing just one hits and a pair of walks.
The offense would get going midway through the second, as
Travis Vlasek and
Javier Benavides brought in the first two runs for the Javelinas to make it a 2-3 ball game. UT-Tyler responded with an additional run to increase their lead to two, but a Prado RBI-BB followed by a
Cade Minus RBI-single even the game up at four-runs apiece.
Neither team got the offense going through the final two innings of regulation as the game was sent into extra innings.
Brian Buchanan was on the mound for the Javelinas, and nearly got out of a bases loaded jam but could not get the final strike call that he needed to get the third out, getting a Patriot runner aboard for the go ahead run. Salinas was able to get aboard in the bottom of the eighth to represent the tying run, but could not get across the plate as the Javelinas split their double-header Saturday.
Texas A&M-Kingsville wraps up their series against UT-Tyler Sunday at 1:00 pm from Nolan Ryan Field. Fans of the Javelinas can watch the game on FloCollege or follow the action at JavelinaBSB on X.
