Box Score, Game 1
Box Score, Game 2
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan baseball team split its series finale doubleheader with Northeastern State at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex in Stephenville on Monday, downing the RiverHawks 7-0 in the opening game before falling 5-4 in the nightcap.
Tarleton opened the scoring in game one with two runs in the Texan-half of the first. Mark Jeffery singled and then back-to-back doubles from Chris Casazza and Tim Rainey allowed Jeffery and Casazza to score to give the Texans the early advantage.
The Texans then a run in both the second and third innings to take a 4-0 lead. Andy Wolfe led the second inning off with a walk and then scored on Zane Hensley's infield single up the middle. Then with two outs in the third, Charlie Ulbricht singled through the left side and then came home on Wolfe's single past the shortstop's glove.
Andrew Kapple led off the fourth inning with a bunt single and moved over to second on Hensley's single to left field. Casazza then reached base on a fielder's choice, moving Kapple over to third. Casazza stole second base and then a single from Tim Rainey scored Kapple. Casazza moved to third on the base hit and then scored following a passed ball by the NSU catcher.
The Texans added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Mark Jeffery scored on Casazza's double down the left field line.
Mike Ramirez (2-0) got the start for the Texans and eased through the RiverHawks lineup throughout the game, but a scary moment came in the top of the sixth inning when the Texan pitcher was hit by a line drive. With one out in the sixth, NSU's Eric McKinney hit a line drive that hit off the back of Ramirez' head. Ramirez lay on the ground for a few moments, but got up and shook the hit off to finish out the game.
The junior out of Gallup, N.M., went the entire 7.0 innings throwing shutout baseball while allowing just five hits. He struck out seven batters and walked just one.
NSU's Shay Colburn (0-2) took the loss for the RiverHawks, allowing six runs on nine hits and striking out four. Adam Hibdon worked the final two innings for the RiverHawks, allowing the one run on two hits.
Four Texan hitters (Hensley, Jeffery, Casazza and Rainey) each finished the game with two hits apiece. Casazza and Rainey each drove in a team-high two runs on in the game as well.
The Texans opened the second game scoring a pair of run on three hits in the first inning. Kapple led the inning off with a double to the left field fence and then moved to third base on a balk from NSU starting pitcher, Andrew White. Kapple then scored on a sacrifice bunt from Jeffery to make it 1-0. Casazza followed with a double down the right field line and after stealing third base came home to score on Rainey's single past a diving second baseman.
NSU took the lead for the first time on the day in the third inning of game two. Following a couple of walks, McKinney doubled to clear the bases and then later scored on a double from Angel Hernandez. Hernandez then scored on Chris Gallegos' double to give the RiverHawks a 4-2 advantage.
The RiverHawks added a run in the top of the seventh inning, scoring on a Cale Replogle's RBI-single to make it a 5-2 game in favor of NSU.
The Texans countered in the bottom-half of the inning to pull back within a pair of runs of the RiverHawks. Jeffery was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Casazza's double. Jeffery then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 5-3 game.
Tarleton pulled within a run of the RiverHawks in the bottom of the eighth inning. Christopher Patton reached base on a throwing error by the pitcher and then moved over to second when Wolfe was hit by a pitch. Then with two outs, Kapple hit a slow roller to the shortstop, but his throw was off the mark and Patton scored on the play. Kapple and Wolfe each moved to second and third, but the rally was cut short when Hensley flew out to the center fielder.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Casazza and Rainey each singled giving the Texans runners at first and second, but Ulbricht and Patton each flied out to center field to end the game.
Andrew White (2-0) picked up his second win of the season for the RiverHawks and it was Brandon Van Riper (0-1) getting the loss for the Texans.
The loss dropped the Texans to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in LSC play following the four-game set. NSU improved to 4-4 after winning the series 3-1. The RiverHawks head into next week 3-1 in LSC play.
The Texans will return to the diamond this weekend when the team travels to San Angelo to play No. 10 Angelo State. The first game of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in San Angelo.
