03/19/10
Paul Camarillo
Texas A & M Kingsville Javelinas played host to Northeastern State University Riverhawks at Nolan Ryan Field on Friday afternoon in double header Lone Star Conference games. Javelinas won first the game winning 6-2, but lost the second game 6-4 to the Riverhawks.
In the first game, Javelinas' Clifton Thomas went 3-4 with two runs, a double, a triple and a stolen base. Teammate Luis Diaz went 3-3 with a home run and three RBI's. Collectively the Javelinas had a total of 10 hits in the first game.
David de Leon held his own on the mound against the Riverhawks as he only allowed five hits, and two walks over the course of the game. He was able to strike out seven batters earning his fith win of the season, completing two games this year.
Riverhawks managed a run in the fourth and then added another in the sixth on Chris Gallegos' home run. Tyler Patterson was tagged with the loss falling to 4-3 as he pitched 4.2 innings allowing nine hits and five runs.
In the second game, the Javelinas scored early leading for the first four innings until the Riverhawks would take the lead in the fifth. The battle for the lead would ensue over the course of the game, but Riverhawks would emerge victorious in the top of the nineth.
Thomas had three more hits for the Javelinas, scored two runs, and managed another stolen base as he went 6-9 on the day.
In the fifth inning, Chris Sprick sent the ball packing as it travelled over the fence pushing the Riverhawks ahead of the Javelinas. Javelinas' Travis Earles tied the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single. Riverhawks would reclaim the lead in the sixth with an unearned run. Earles would respond in the seventh with a two-out, two-run single to give the Javelinas a 4-3 lead.
Riverhawks tied the game in the eighth and then won it the nineth. In the nineth inning, the second batter of the inning reached base on a error on the shortstop, as it came back to haunt the Javelinas, allowing the Riverhawks to two unearned runs.
Riverhawks' Jason Travis picked up his third save of the season as he retired the Javelinas' at bat at the end of the nineth inning. Josh Walker picked up the win after pitching 1.2 inngings shutout relief. Andrew White started the game and went 6.1 innings while allowing three runs before being pulled.
For the Javelinas, Robert Cox went 6.0 innings while allowing three hits, two earned runs and four walks. Taylor Taska was tagged with the loss in 2.2 innings of relief. Travis Earles, Cody Stigall, and Cash Barker each had two hits.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on Military Appreciation Day, or catch the game Live on the South Texan Live Feed.