KINGSVILLE, Texas (Jan. 31, 2020) – Texas A&M-Kingsville and Oklahoma Christian each managed only five hits, but OC committed four errors that proved to be the difference as TAMUK won 3-1 in the season opener for both baseball teams Friday night at Nolan Ryan Field.

All of TAMUK's runs were unearned, including the decisive ones in the fifth inning, when the Javelinas scored twice on only one hit, a run-scoring triple to right-center field by Austin De Leon that put TAMUK (1-0, 1-0 Lone Star Conference) ahead for good.

Senior left-hander Gabe Rodery (0-1), OC's returning All-South Central Region ace, pitched like one, allowing four hits and no earned runs in seven innings of work, but the Eagles didn't provide him much in the way of run support. OC (0-1, 0-1) had the potential tying run at the plate in each of the last three innings but went 0 for 6 with a runner on base during that stretch.

The Javelinas took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, when De Leon doubled down the left-field line to lead off, then scored on a throwing error on a ground ball by Matthew Stary.

OC's only run came in the fourth inning. Austin McCain led off with a single to right field and Blake Empkey – the only OC player with more than one hit in the game – followed with a single up the middle. With one out, Tanner White's groundout scored McCain to tie the game.

In the fifth, Aldo Buendia reached on another error to lead off before De Leon's triple. De Leon later scored on a sacrifice fly by Giancarlo Servin, making it 3-1.

Matthew Sesler (1-0) picked up the pitching win for TAMUK, throwing 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief, while Chase Glover pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.

The Eagles and Javelinas will play Saturday at 2 p.m. before finishing their series at 1 p.m. Sunday.