Kingsville - Texas A&M-Kingsville dropped its opening game of the series against Texas A&M-International in a 7-9 decision Thursday from Nolan Ryan Field.
The Javelinas (19-16, 19-16 LSC) found themselves in a 7-7 tie heading into the top of the eighth after
Joshua Prado scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff home run and an RBI-single retook the lead for the Dustdevils (12-23, 12-23 LSC) which they held onto to get the win.
Junior righty
Garrett Nail was spectacular for a vast majority of his extended relief outing after checking in during the fourth. Nail tossed 5.2 innings while recording 10 strikeouts to boost his league-leading mark to 75 on the season.
Ethan Ortega saw limited action as the starter today, while
Ruben Rendon III,
Sawyer Smith and
Adam DeBoer also saw action on the mound for the Javelinas.
The weather played a major factor in this one, especially for the Javelinas in the early goings. Texas A&M-International would plate six runs in the first two innings with six hits and four walks. The Javelinas finally kept the Dustdevils off the scoreboard in the third, after Smith struck out a pair while offering favorable contact for the defense with a pop-fly.
A leadoff double from
Jayden Martinez kicked off the following inning for the Javelinas and he was quickly brought home with an RBI-single from Prado.
Nick Reyes would knock another single to drive home another run before
Cade Minus walked to load the bases.
Isaiah Aguilar then sent a no-doubter into left field for a grand slam that knotted the game up at six apiece.
The Dustdevils immediately answered with a run of their own utilizing their base running to make it a 6-7 ballgame. It would not be until the seventh inning where the Javelinas would respond thanks to a leadoff walk from Prado that was turned into the game-tying run thanks to a Dustdevil passed ball.
Travis Vlasek,
Sergio Galvan Jr. and Minus would load the bases with walks, but could not come across to represent the go ahead run.
The levee would then break for Nail in the eighth, as TAMIU knocked a leadoff home run into left center to break the 7-7- tie. An additional run then came across the board, creating enough cushion for the Dustdevils to hold any late rally from the Javelinas at bay.
Texas A&M-Kingsville takes on Texas A&M-International in double-header action Friday from Nolan Ryan Field beginning at 2:00 pm. Fans of the Javelinas can watch the game on FloCollege or follow the action at JavelinaBSB on X.
