KINGSVILLE, Texas (March 2 & 3)- The Cameron Aggie baseball team (7-10) went up against Texas A&M-Kingsville (12-5) this weekend. Kingsville stole all four games from the Aggies, with three out of the four games winning by only one run. On Friday (March 2) the Aggies lost the first game 1-2, and the second game 3-4. The next day, the Aggies hoped for revenge against Kingsville, however, just fell short yet again. The Aggies lost 4-3 in the first game and 3-1 in the second game.
The struggle for the Aggies still seams to be their offensive side of the ball. During the first game on Friday March 2, the Aggies had only six hits and two walks total. In the second game, the Aggies still had only six hits, with four walks this go around. For the entire day, the Aggies had left 15 runners on base.
Aggies’ Mark Armstrong had a great showing for Friday’s first game. He had three hits with three at bats, which is half of the Aggies’ total hits of that game. With Armstrong on base, Blake Hughes doubled to center field allowing Armstrong to score. This tied the game one to one in the top of the fifth inning and gave Cameron the chance to win the game. Yet, their chance ended with Kingsville’s Justin Ariki’s running ability in the bottom of the seventh . After Ariki was walked, he stole second and third base. Then with an error by Aggie’s catcher Kyle Walbrick, Ariki was able to score.
In the second game of the day, the Aggies had to fight from behind from the beginning. In the bottom of the second inning, Cameron’s pitcher Bevon Anderson gave up 4 runs with six hits. From there on out, the Aggies gave up no more runs, however, the damage was already done.
The Aggies tried to rally back into the game in the sixth inning. Cameron’s first baseman Josh Mathiesen hit a double, advancing Blake Watson to third, and B.J. Cole to score. This started a rally for the Aggies which resulted in three runs total during this inning. Yet, Kingsville held on to their one run lead and did not allow the Aggies to score another run.
The Aggies returned the next day in hope for retaliation against Kingsville. The Aggies started strong, leading Kingsville by one run in the third inning with the help of third baseman B.J. Cole hitting a double down the left field line.
In the fourth inning, Kingsville had 3 runs that then put them ahead 1-3. The Aggies quickly fought back and tied up the score in the fifth inning with Mark Armstrong and Waylon Pettet both taking advantages of their walks at bat and scoring. After the fifth inning, the game was tied 3-3. Kingsville’s winning run came in the bottom of the sixth inning with the aid of two hits from their right fielder Taylor Everett and their short stop Clay Bockholt.
The last chance for the Aggies to get a win on Kingsville came all too soon for the Aggies in the second game of the day and the final game of the weekend. Kingsville took the lead from the start in the first inning with two runs and lead the whole way. The Aggies got their one and only run in the game in the second inning with the help of Clint Powell’s single to center field, allowing Ryan Whitely to score. Kingsville, however, then wrapped it up in the bottom of the fifth with the final run of the game and sending the Aggies back home winless.
The Aggies still have a great chance of starting a winning streak and running with it. The Aggies have great defensive ability with Senior pitchers like Ryan Totte, Art Gonzales, Ryan Bengert, and Danny Lee. Then, not to mention, the Aggies have great fielding ability to help cap wins. The offensive side of the ball can easily turn in the Aggies favor with the hitting power of B.J Cole, Ryan Whiteley, and Blake Watson just to name a few.
The Aggies face Eastern New Mexico this Friday (March 9) and Saturday (March 10) at home in hopes of beginning a new winning streak. The game begins at 1:00pm on Friday and 12:00pm on Saturday at McCord Field.