Staff report

A ninth-inning rally came up just a bit short Saturday, as Texas A&M-Kingsville drew first blood with a 4-3 Saturday win to open its four-game Lone Star Conference series against Eastern New Mexico.

The host Javelinas (12-7, 6-2 LSC) never trailed, and took a 1-0 lead on a Jimmy Roche RBI single to left off ENMU starter James Gray.

Starter Ryan Benitez (3-1) struck out 12 and stymied the Greyhounds in the first eight innings, and a trio of relievers held off a ninth-inning comeback.

Gray was the hard-luck loser, dropping to 0-3 despite allowing one run on five hits over seven innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. The Javelinas scored three in the eighth off reliever Russell Edwards on a wild pitch and a Brayton Carlson two-run single to right.

The Greyhounds (5-11, 1-4) rallied in the ninth, forcing Kingsville to use three relievers. The Hounds loaded the bases against Benitez and Weston Silverberg, then scored on a ChadHighberger walk and a two-run error following Keenan Dodd’s one-out single.

Trey Taylor retired the only two Greyhounds he faced for his first save of the season.

The series will continue with a noon (MDT) doubleheader Sunday and a single game noon Monday to close the series.

Lions 10, ENMU 5

Host Texas A&M-Commerce scored 11 runs in a three-inning stretch bridging both games of its Lone Star Conference doubleheader Saturday. The outburst bolstered the Lions to a 10-5, 8-0 sweep over Eastern New Mexico.

The teams will meet again in a noon (MDT) doubleheader to close out the series.

Catcher December Rivers led the effort for the Lions (14-10, 3-1 LSC), going 7-for-7 with three doubles, a homer and seven RBIs between the two games.

The Zias (13-9, 1-5 LSC) plated a pair in the first inning of the opener on RBI singles by Audrey Velasquez and Erica Velasquez, but never saw the lead again after an RBI double by pitcher Aundria Romero.

Romero also hit a two-run homer in the third to help her cause, and allowed four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Selena Rima retired five of the seven batters she faced and allowed a run to pick up the save.

Asa Secheslingloff allowed 10 runs on 12 hits in the opening loss for the Zias.

Audrey Velasquez went 3-for-4 in the opener, while Morgan Green added a two-run homer in the sixth.

For ENMU, Kiana Zerr suffered the defeat in the nightcap with six runs on eight hits in three innings of work. Courtney Moore blanked the Zias on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

The Zias will be back home Tuesday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma State.