Alpine, TX - Joshua Endo and
Nick Reyes hit the first two home runs of the season for Texas A&M-Kingsville as it cruised to a 9-3 game one victory over Sul Ross State at Kokernot Field on Friday.
Facing a 1-2 deficit in the top of the third inning, the Javelinas (9-6, 9-6 LSC) tied the game up with their first home run of the season courtesy of Endo that just bounced over the right-field wall to even it up at two apiece. Reyes then got in on the long-ball action, scoring two more runs to create a big enough lead for the Javelinas.
Garrett Nail was called to start for the series and after giving up two runs in the first two innings to the Lobos (1-14, 1-14 LSC), Nail kept Sul Ross State off the scoreboard for his remaining three innings of action to keep it a four-run lead.
Brian Buchanan and
Ethan Ortega saw action in relief, allowing one run in four innings of work combined to keep the Javelinas ahead.
The Javelinas got some insurance runs on the board in the bottom thanks to a
Braden Duff two-RBI single that made the score 8-2. Duff would be one of five Javelinas to notch multiple hits in this contest, joining Reyes,
Isaiah Aguilar,
Cash Benavidez and Endo. The leadoff man Endo was especially dominant against the Lobos in game one, racking up four hits and three RBI's on the day.
After Sul Ross plated a run in the seventh that cut the lead to five, The Javelinas got another insurance run across the board in the top of the ninth after a Lobo error put Benavidez in scoring position to get brought across home plate. That run would be more than enough to keep the Javelinas in the lead and give them the win in game one of the series.
Texas A&M-Kingsville will take on Sul Ross State in double-header action Saturday beginning at 12:00. Fans of the Javelinas can watch the game on FloCollege or follow the action at JavelinaBSB on X.
