Eagles Sweep Mustangs to Cap Off Senior Weekend

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M-Texarkana Baseball wrapped up their regular season against the University of the Southwest Mustangs. Despite a weather delay that pushed the final two innings of game two to the following day, the Eagles completed the sweep and secured the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.

The Eagles also used their final home series to honor their 19 seniors between games one and two on Saturday: Freddie Madera, Brandon Riley, Adam Garren, Gabe Baker, Dylan Cabral, Blake Taylor, Josiah Taylor, Grant Sanders, Nathan Hunter, Dustin Niles, Jonathan Rios, Anthony Galindo, Bobby Velasco, Conner Owens, Marcus Tidwell, Fabian Pokipala, Aaron Hunter, Joey Spence, and Drew Baumgartner.

Game 1: TAMUT 4, USW 3

The Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagles secured a narrow 4-3 victory over the Southwest Mustangs in a tightly contested Game 1. The Eagles' offense focused on making consistent contact, striking out only four times and drawing no walks across the seven-inning game. By putting balls in play, they forced the Mustangs' defense to work for every out, ultimately creating opportunities to score through aggressive hitting and smart baserunning.

The Eagles wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the first inning thanks to a defensive miscue by the Mustangs' pitcher and a clutch double by Conner Owens. In the fifth inning, Austin Kerns was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home another run, and later crossed the plate on a double from Jonathan Rios. Rios' hit provided what would be the decisive run, as Southwest managed to close the gap but could not overtake the Eagles.

On the pitching side, Camden Gamble delivered a strong performance in relief, earning the win and improving his record to 4-0. Gamble pitched three solid innings, surrendering just one run on three hits to steady the Eagles' defense. Andrew Ender was called upon to record the final two outs, successfully earning his second save of the season and sealing the hard-fought victory for Texas A&M-Texarkana.

Game 2: TAMUT 7, USW 5

The Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagles earned a 7-5 win over the Southwest Mustangs in Game 2, controlling much of the action before a late surge by the Mustangs made for a tense finish. Blake Taylor delivered a standout performance on the mound, pitching five strong innings while allowing just one run on three hits. Though the Mustangs mounted a comeback against the Eagles' bullpen, Fabian Pokipala entered in relief and successfully shut the door, giving up just two hits and no runs to record his first save of the season.

At the plate, the Eagles were powered by strong performances from Austin Kerns and Jonathan Rios. Kerns had a big day, going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, providing a key spark for the Eagles' offense. Rios also contributed significantly, collecting two hits in five at-bats and driving in two runs. Adam Garren added to the attack with a home run of his own, helping the Eagles build a lead that ultimately proved just large enough to withstand Southwest's late rally.

Despite the Mustangs' push in the later innings, Texas A&M-Texarkana's early offensive output and timely pitching were enough to secure the victory. Taylor's strong start and Pokipala's calm under pressure in the final frames highlighted a solid team effort. With the win, the Eagles were setup for a sweep of the final conference series.

Game 3: TAMUT 13, USW 3

The Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagles capped off their series against the Southwest Mustangs with a dominant 13-3 victory in Game 3. The Eagles' offense exploded, piling up 17 hits and consistently pressuring the Mustangs' pitching staff throughout the game. Austin Kerns led the offensive outburst with a stellar 3-for-4 performance, driving in six runs with two doubles and a home run. Supporting Kerns' big day, James Provencio, Jonathan Rios, Conner Owens, Adam Garren, and Gabe Baker each contributed multiple hits to help fuel the blowout.

On the mound, Marcus Tidwell set the tone early for the Eagles with a strong start, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four. Camden Gamble continued his impressive weekend by picking up his second win of the series, improving his season record to 5-0. Gamble pitched two innings in relief, giving up only one run on two hits, while Nathan Hunter followed by allowing two runs on a single hit in his inning of work.

Grant Sanders closed the game in commanding fashion, pitching the final two innings without allowing a single batter to reach base. The Eagles' combination of relentless offense and steady pitching overwhelmed the Mustangs, completing a series sweep and giving them much needed confidence as they head to the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament this week.

Up Next

The Eagles are headed to Sterlington, Louisiana, to compete in the RRAC Baseball Championships, hosted by LSU-Shreveport. As the No. 3 seed, the Eagles will take on the No. 6 seed, Louisiana Christian, in the opening round on May 1, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.