LAWTON - The Cameron Aggies return to the diamond with a road trip south to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville, looking for a bounce back 2022 season.
Despite the arctic blast hitting most of the Lone Star Conference area, the new baseball season begins this weekend with teams returning to a schedule that features a round-robin four-game series slate. First up for the Aggies is the Javelinas, a team they have had some good battles with in the recent past.
TAMUK, tabbed fourth in the LSC preseason poll, and Cameron, projected to finish in 12th, begin the season with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m. and the series finale on Monday at 1 p.m.
A year ago, the Aggies finished with an 8-31 record, recording three wins on the road in 13 tries. Within LSC play, the Black and Gold turned in an 8-25 record seeing them fall short of the conference postseason tournament. They will be looking to get back to the postseason under third-year head coach
Kyle Williams.
The Aggies are be led by 2021 All-Conference utility player
Jayce Clem and second baseman
Beau Williams. Clem led CU in almost every offensive category including average (.366) and home runs (11). On the mound, Clem enjoyed a successful 14 innings, making one start in his ten appearances, turning in a 2.05 WHIP, and only giving up 22 earned runs. Williams hit .301 and led CU with 35 RBI a season ago.
Joining the duo in the CU lineup will be
Jordan Harrison-Dudley, who is back to supply power to as the senior crushed seven homers a year ago while turning in a .327 batting average.
Erik Ohman, who led the team with 34 runs scored in 2021,
Julian Macias,
Nik Sanchez, and
Ryan Carter also return after each starting over 29 games last spring. Williams has also brought in a handful of newcomers to vie for the remaining spots starting lineup.
On the mound, CU will look to
Drew Henderson,
Tyler Cornett, and
Marcos Feria as well as others the lead the Aggies' staff. Henderson had the lowest ERA of CU pitchers to pitch over 17 innings last season while Feria struck out a team-high 58 batters and Cornett struck out 40 in 2021.
Cameron faces one of the top teams in the region to open the new year as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association selected the Javelinas eight in the South Central region preseason poll. The reasoning behind the rank was a 21-12 season a year ago and five regional tournament appearances under skipper Jason Gonzales.
On the mound, Logan Garza, a member of the NCBWA Preseason All-Region team, has put together an impressive college career thus far after transferring to TAMUK from Our Lady of the Lake a year ago. In 2021, the senior tossed 61 innings to the tune of a sub-5 ERA, a .196 batting average against, and over 100 strikeouts, which was second in the LSC last year. Kolby Lunsford adds to the TAMUK staff while Giancarlo Servin returns to lead the Hogs' lineup.
The four-game set at Nolan Ryan Field is the first road test for Cameron, who has seven road trips this season. The Aggies' first home series at McCord field is scheduled for Feb. 11-13 against St. Edward's. All Cameron baseball games can be followed via live stats or streamed via the Lone Star Conference Digital Network by purchasing a $10 day pass or a $75 season pass.
