Jones picks up career win No. 800 as Cabral, Eagles top Xavier

After a lackluster opening game in Friday's conference doubleheader, A&M-Texarkana leaned on the strong left arm of Dylan Cabral to hurl the Eagles to victory in the second game and force a Saturday rubber match against Xavier at Dobson Field. Xavier took the opening game, 12-1, in seven innings, but the Eagles bounced back for a 9-3 win to end the day.

The Eagles (19-23 overall, 16-10 RRAC) will face the Gold Rush tomorrow at 12 pm. Friday's 9-3 win gave head coach Steve Jones a pair of coaching milestones – career win No. 800, and win No. 250 with the Eagles. A&M-Texarkana remains tied for third in the conference standings.

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GAME 1 NOTES

• Xavier pounded the Eagle pitching for 14 hits and 12 runs in a run-rule shortened contest. The Gold Rush put up two runs in the first, four in the fourth, three in the fifth and two more in the sixth before winning, 12-1.

• The Eagles managed just five hits with TJ Krause collecting a pair and the lone RBI. Krause also stole a base. Dakota Leopold had two hits, including a double.

• Oscar Sanchez (3-6) took the loss, lasting just 3.2 innings and giving up eight hits, six earned runs and three walks while striking out three.

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GAME 2 NOTES

• Cabral improved to 7-5 with a seven-inning outing that included nine strikeouts and just five hits, two earned runs and two walks allowed. Marcus Tidwell picked up the save with two innings of relief.

• Hunter Reid led the offense with a two-run homer (his ninth of the season) and Jonathan Rios had four hits. Krause also had two hits for the second time in the same day.

• The Eagles started fast, taking a 2-0 lead in the second, increasing it to 5-1 in the third and 8-1 in the third.