CANYON, Texas  –  Three home runs by #18 Texas A&M-Kingsville in the first three innings proved to be the difference as the Javelinas downed West Texas A&M 14-8 in the opening game of a three game series at Wilder Park Friday evening.  With the loss, WT fell to 32-16 and 20-13 in Lone Star Conference play, while TAMUK improved to 33-14 and 23-10 in league play.

With the wind blowing straight out, Hayden Vesely hit a two run home run to dead center with one out in the top of the first.  The national weather service said the wind was out of the South at 22 miles per hour.  It was Vesely's fifth round-tripper of the season and was just the third home run WT senior starter Austin Moore allowed all season.

A pair of one out free passes put two on for TAMUK in the top of the second.  Moore fanned LSC leading hitter Dalton Perry for the second out and got a ground out to second to end the inning as the Javelinas left two stranded.

Vesely opened the top of the third with his second home run of the game for a 3-0 lead.  Back-to-back singles by TAMUK put two on with nobody out.  Following an out, Jimmy Roche hit a three run home run to left for a 6-0 lead for the third home run of the game and second of the inning.  Moore fanned his fifth batter of the game to get out of the inning.

TAMUK starter Preston Plovanich retired all nine WT batters in order through the first three innings as he fanned three.  He pitched 8.1 innings of three hit, shutout baseball in a 3-0 win in the first series in Kingsville at the beginning of April.

Senior Mason Shiflett began the bottom of the fourth with a double to left.  A pair of ground outs moved Shiflett to third.  A fly out to left ended the frame.

A walk and two strikeouts for Moore, his eighth and ninth of the game, but Christian Caudle singled home two runs with a comebacker up the middle and then Wesley Aguilar singled home the ninth run of the game for a 9-0 Javelina lead. 

An infield single and a double to right put runners at second and third with two away in the bottom of the fifth.  A walk to senior Matt Cole loaded the bases for the Buffs as the Javelinas had a meeting at the mound marking the first time Plovanich had some trouble in the game.   Shiflett singled home two runs for a 9-2 score.  A walk to senior Nick Chapman loaded the bases once again.  A fielder's choice got Plovanich and the Javelinas out of the jam as WT left the bags full.

WT went to the bullpen in the top of the sixth as junior Thomas Garland relieved Moore as he went five innings, allowing nine hits, nine earned runs, three walks and he fanned nine in 91 pitches.

Senior Josh Day reached on an error and moved to second to begin the bottom of the sixth.  Senior John Baiada drove home Day for a 9-3 score on a single up the middle.  WT was unable to do any further damage leaving two on and six stranded to that point.

A single and a double began the top of the eighth for the Javelinas.  Garland got a strikeout and then junior Colby Price relieved Garland.  A passed ball plated one run, but Price and the Buffs got out of the frame only allowing the one run, trailing 10-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

WT got the run back in the bottom of the eighth as Day belted a solo home run to left center for a 10-4 score and his third home run of the season.  Jako Kelm relieved Plovanich following a one out walk to junior Troy LaBrie.  A double play ended the threat sending the game to the ninth.

TAMUK added four runs in the ninth highlighted by a two run home run from Dalton Perry for a 14-4 lead.  It was the fourth home run hit by the Javelinas in the game.

A pair of walks put two on for WT in the bottom of the ninth with one out.  Chapman singled to right loading the bases.  Senior Trace Hansen singled to right plating a run for a 14-5 score.  Day came up with a double to right plating two runs for a 14-7 score as TAMUK went to the bullpen for the second time in the game.  A sacrifice fly from Baiada plated the eighth run as Day advanced to third.

For the game, WT had eight runs on 10 hits with one error, while TAMUK had 14 runs on 15 hits with one error.  Shiflett, Day and redshirt freshman Christian Loya each had two hits as Day was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI.

TAMUK had six players with two hits each as Vesely was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Roche was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI as Caudle was 2 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI.

WT will look to regroup needing to sweep a doubleheader Saturday to enhance its NCAA playoff chances, beginning at 1 p.m. at Wilder Park.  Prior to the first game at approximately 12:45, the Buffs will honor 13 seniors playing in their final two regular season games in a Buff uniform.