Box Score, Game 1

Box Score, Game 2

STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texans opened Lone Star Conference action on Sunday dropping the first two games of a four-game set with Northeastern State, falling 6-4 and 5-1 to RiverHawks at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex in Stephenville.

The losses dropped the Texans to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play. NSU improved to 3-3 and are 2-0 to open-up conference games.

The RiverHawks scored in the top of the first when Noah Rigenberger reach base on an error and later scored on Angel Hernandez' single to left field. NSU made it 2-0 in the top of the second when Tarleton starter Ryan Salt walked in a run with the bases loaded. Eric McKinney then unloaded the bases in the next at bat when he made it to third base on an error in the outfield that gave the RiverHawks a 5-0 advantage.

The Texans finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs to pull within two of the RiverHawks. Zane Hensley led the inning off with a walk and then moved over to second on Andy Wolfe's single to center field. Both runners then moved over one base on Andrew Kapple's single through the left side to load the bases. Tim Rainey plated home the first Tarleton run with his single through the right side, scoring Hensley on the play. Then Mary Jeffery knocked in the second run with a fielder's choice to the shortstop that brought home Wolfe to score. Landon McCall reached base after getting hit by a pitch and Christopher Patton produced his first run of the season after being walked with the bases loaded.

The RiverHawks put up another run in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 6-3 game when Chad Davidson scored on pass ball.

Tarleton managed to push home a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kapple scored on a fielder's choice from Rainey, but that would be the final run of the game as the Texans fell 6-4.

Michael Houser (1-0) picked up the win for the RiverHawks, working 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked four. Josh Walker (S, 1) worked the final 2.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits and striking out two batters to pick up the save.

Salt (0-1) was hit with the loss despite just giving up two (six total) earned runs on four hits in 4.0 innings or work. The junior struck out five batters and walked four. Brandyn Greer came into the game in the fifth inning and worked 3.0 innings of no-run baseball. He allowed a hit while striking out three.

Kapple was the only Texan with multiple hits (2) in game one, while five other Texan hitters recorded a hit each. Hensley led the team with two runs in the loss.

Kyle Bayles led the RiverHawks with a pair of hits, but it was McKinnley's three runs batted in that made the difference in the game.

NSU put up the first run in game two as well to take an early 1-0 lead. Davidson singled to right field and then later scored on fielder's choice from Brandon Espinal. The RiverHawks then added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-0 advantage. With two outs, Espinal scored on a wild pitch just before Ringenberger singled to the right field gap to bring in both Chris Gallegos and Bradley Brooks.

The Texans scored its first run of game two in the bottom of the eighth inning when Nathan Hille walked, stole second base and then later scored on a single by Chris Casazza, making it a 4-1 game still in favor of the RiverHawks.

NSU took a 5-1 lead in the top of the ninth, adding an insurance run when Ringenberger scored on Chris Sprick's sacrifice fly to right field.

The Texans managed to get a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the semi-rally came to an end after a pick-off at first base and a ground out to end the game.

Tyler Patterson (1-0) picked up the win for the RiverHawks, working 8.0 full innings and allowing just the one run on four hits. He struck out eight and walked just two.

Colt Molloy (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work. He fanned seven and walked four. Greer made his second relief effort in the night in game two, working the final 3.0 innings  and allowing a run on one hit while striking out one batter.

The Texans and RiverHawks will resume the series tomorrow with another doubleheader at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex. Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m.