
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The West Texas A&M baseball team evened the season series against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday winning, 9-6 and 5-4 at Nolan Ryan Field. (
Game 1,
Game 2)
In the first game, the visiting Buffs took advantage of eight free passes scoring three runs off the walks. They scored three runs in the second and two more runs in the third inning and never trailed.
In the second inning, Chris Valerio hit a two-run homer driving in Cody Wright who had singled in Will Miller. Miller had doubled earlier in the inning. In the third inning Riley Deaver and Miller each had run-scoring singles.
The Javelinas scraped across single runs in the second third and fifth innings. Cash Barker (Spring/Klein HS) singled home Brandon Rohr (Anaheim, CA/Orange Lutheran HS) in the second. Cody Stigall (Seguin/Seguin HS) tripled in the fifth inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Rohr. In the sixth inning, the Hoggies pulled to within 6-5 after a wild pitch scored Trent Wagner (Victoria/Memorial HS) and Jerry Rodriguez (Canovanas, Puerto Rico) came in on Travis Earles’ (Houston/Cy-Falls HS) sacrifice fly.
The Buffs put the game away in the top of the seventh when they scored three runs. The big hit was Valerio’s two-out, two-run single.
The Javelinas put the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, but Brent Lewis was able to record the final out.
Jonathan Paez picked up the win for the Buffs tossing 4.0 innings allowing six hits, two runs and one walk while striking out four. Miller went 3-for-3 and Valerio 2-for-4 with four RBI’s.
Freshman Colby Schindler (Hallettsville/Hallettsville HS) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven hits, six runs and six walks in 4.2 innings. Wagner went 3-for-4 with a double. Barker, Stigall and Luis Diaz (Santa Ana/Century HS) each had two hits for the Hogs.
In the second game, the Buffs scored three early runs off Javelina starting pitcher Dan Rogers (Redwood City, CA/Woodside HS) before he settled down. Rogers held the Buffs scoreless from the fourth through the eighth innings allowing the Javelinas to take a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning.
In the ninth inning, Adam De La Garza led off with a double for the Buffs. Garrett Campfield then attempted to bunt De La Garza to third. A throwing error on the play allowed De La Garza to score and Campfield also came all the way around to score providing the winning margin for the Buffs.
Billy Zeleznak picked up the win after pitching 2.1 innings in relief allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three. Mike De Long came on to pitch in the ninth and picked up the save while striking out two batters.
De La Garza and Elliot Burrow each had two hits for the Buffs. Burrow drove in two runs.
Taylor Taska was handed the loss after allowing two unearned runs in the ninth inning. Rogers went 8.0 innings allowing seven hits, three runs and two walks while striking out seven.
Clifton Thomas (San Diego, CA/El Cajon Valley HS) led the Hoggie offense with three hits and two RBI’s. Jerry Rodriguez and Travis Earles each had two hits for the team.
The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday night at 6 o’clock against St. Mary’s.
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