LAWTON, Okla. – Andy Garcia went 5-for-5 at the plate including an eighth inning home run to lead the Cameron Aggies (20-11, 13-8 LSC) over Texas A&M Kingsville (16-15, 13-11 LSC) in eight innings on Saturday at McCord Field, 20-9.
Garcia’s homer put the Aggies over the conference mandated run rule to end the game early with the Aggie lead at 11. His five hits also tied a school record for the most hits in a single game as he becomes just the eighth batter in school history to do so.
The visitors jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead via a Jake Mendiola gapper to left field in the top of the first.
CU matched them right away as Larsson got the first off his XXX home runs on the day, a two-run blast to right field, to knot the game at 2-2.
The Ags struck again in the second as Kaleb Brawner pushed a ball into the left field corner to bring in Andrew Garcia.
In the third, Larsson again worked the count and punched his second ball out of the park, this time a solo shot over the fence in right center to make it 4-2.
The Black and Gold threatened again in the fourth as Dalton Hillard led off with a two bagger to right center and advanced to third on the Brawner sacrifice bunt. Joe Halley laced a ball down the first base line but Javelinas’ first baseman Adrian Williams came up with the diving stop to keep the ball in front of him for the out.
The game was broken wide open in the fifth as the Aggies put up nine runs on eight hits and were aided by four Javelina errors. Brawner’s bases clearing double brought in three runs and the Oklahoma City native ended up on third by way off an error on the center fielder.
When it was all said and done, the Aggies ended the fifth with a 13-2 lead.
Kingsville was able to add three runs in the top of the sixth but a Kenny Held double over the right fielder's head brought in another pair of runs to give the Aggies a 15-5 lead heading into the seventh.
Head Coach Todd Holland elected to put in James Rhodes to close out the game in the run rule situation, but the visitors would have none of it, putting up two runs aided by two Aggie errors that would have closed out the frame.
Again in the eighth, the Javelinas' bats stayed hot as they added two more runs to stay in the game. Larsson showed off his defense as he made an acrobatic diving catch to end the inning with the bases loaded and keep the Aggies up 15-9.
Held got the Aggies two more runs in the bottom of the eighth with a single to center field that was misplayed allowing two runners to come across and put Held at third.
Then with a 1-1 count, Garcia continued his perfect day with a walk-off three-run shot off the scoreboard to clinch the run rule and the series for the Aggies.
Wade Matt (2-1) picked up the win after throwing a solid six innings. The junior lefty recorded four strikeouts and allowed eight hits and five runs. Rhodes was able to close out the game in a non-save situation on extended work. He finished the Javelinas off in two innings while allowing four runs (two earned) and striking out four batters.
The victory puts some distance between the Aggies and the Javelinas who entered the weekend just a game apart in the standings.
CU will stay in conference play as they travel to Ada, Okla., on April 8 to take on East Central in a three-game tilt beginning at 3 P.M. on Friday.
