Box Score

Season Stats

KINGSVILLE, Texas  – No. 22 Texas A&M-Kingsville got a strong pitching performance from Preston Plovanich as the Javelinas defeated No. 11 West Texas A&M 3-0 in the first game of a four game series Friday evening.  With the loss, the Buffs fell to 23-8 on the year and 12-5 in Lone Star Conference play.  TAMUK improved to 21-8 and 12-5 in league play.
 
The Javelinas pulled into a tie for first with the Buffs with the win as Angelo State, who was a game back entering the weekend, lost at home to Tarleton State and remained a game back.  The loss snapped the Buffs' four-game winning streak.  It was the first time this season the Buffs had been shutout and the first since Mar. 13, 2015 at Angelo State (1-0).
 
WT put the first two batters on base with a pair of hits in the first inning, but Plovanich settled down and retired the side leaving two stranded. 
 
In the bottom of the second, a one out single and a walk put two on for the Javelinas.  An error and wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third.  Miles Holcomb hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead, followed by a RBI double down the right field line from Christian Caudle for a 2-0 lead.
 
Plovanich retired 17-straight Buffs from the first inning as both he, and WT senior pitcher Brooks Trujillo, stymied the offenses into the seventh inning.    
 
In the top of the seventh, senior Nick Chapman drew a one out walk for the first Buff on base since the first inning.  Plovanich retired junior Troy LaBrie for the third out.
 
A single to right began the bottom of the frame and a sacrifice bunt moved the Javelinas into scoring position.  Alex Gonzalez singled through the right side for runners at the corners.  On a 1-2 count, Zach Smith singled through the left side for a 3-0 lead.
 
In the top of the eighth, WT put two on as junior Hunter Henderson walked and senior Jake Fuller singled for just the third hit of the game for WT.  A foul out and a pop out double play ended the threat. 
 
A leadoff single from Ruben Almaguer began the bottom of the eighth and a sacrifice bunt moved him to second with two out.   Trujillo got out of the jam sending the Buffs to their final at bat down 3-0.
 
With the heart of the order coming up to bat, Plavanich retired senior Matt Cole with a ground out for the first out.  TAMUK reliever Hunter Lehman came in for Plavanich and fanned senior Trace Hansen looking for the second out.  Junior John Baiada kept the Buffs alive with a double down the right field line.  Lehman fanned Chapman for the third out and the save.
 
WT had four hits in the contest with two errors, while TAMUK had three runs on six hits.  No player had more than one hit in the game.  Trujillo went eight innings, allowing three runs – two earned, walked four and fanned four as he fell to 5-3 on the year.  Planvanich improved to 3-0 on the year in 8.1 innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out four.  Lehman earned his second save of the season.
 
The Buffs and Javelinas will continue the four game series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.  Links to live stats can be found at www.gobuffsgo.com on the baseball schedule page.