PORTALES, N.M. – The Tarleton Texan baseball team finished off their four game series against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds by splitting the games played on Saturday. Tarleton was able to take the first game 2-1 before dropping the series finale 6-5.
After the weekend, the Texans now stand with at 6-10 and 3-9 against Lone Star Conference opponents. The Greyhounds improved to 8-6 overall and 8-4 in conference matchups.
The Texans got on the board first in game one when Mark Jeffery moved to second on a double to left field in the top of the fourth inning. Jeffery moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Casazza and was finally able to cross the plate when Zane Hensley grounded out to the second baseman.
Tarleton tacked on another run in the top of the fifth when Andrew Wolfe hit a triple to right center before Christopher Patton hit a sacrifice fly to bring Wolfe in and bring the Tarleton lead to 2-0.
Eastern New Mexico scored a run in the last frame in a one hit seventh inning to settle the final score and give Tarleton the victory.
Jake Sowell earned his first win for the year for the Texans by going 6.2 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and one walk. Nathan Lewis came on to record the final out in the seventh inning to give him his second save on the season.
Tyler Vance was tallied with the loss for the Greyhounds as he went five innings with four hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
The Texans got the second game started off in the first inning when Tim Rainey singled and then stole second base before Hensley hit a single to left field, scoring Rainey.
The Greyhounds countered with a run in the bottom of the first frame when Jereme Johnson moved around the bases and was finally brought in by a single to left field by Kevin Thompson.
Tarleton was able to reclaim the lead as Rainey doubled to left field and Casazza brought him home on a sacrifice bunt in the third inning. Two runs in the top of the fifth inning by Patton and Rainey moved the Texan lead to 4-1.
A three-run sixth inning tied the game for the Greyhounds before the Texans reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning when Hensley scored on an error by the shortstop making the score 5-4.
After a single by Mitch Wolfe, Mike Medina came in to pinch run for the Greyhounds. He moved around the bases before he was able to score after a Sean Cruce single to the shortstop to tie the game at 5-5 going into the final frame.
Tarleton was not able to produce any runs in the top of the ninth inning and Eastern New Mexico capitalized when Garrett Cook was able to score the winning run on an error.
Brandon Van Riper was the starting pitcher for the Texans and he went 5.2 innings with nine hits and four earned runs. Nathan Lewis was saddled with his third loss on the year for the Texans as he gave up four hits, one earned run and three walks in 2.1 innings of relief work.
Russell Campbell went six innings as the starter for the Greyhounds and allowed seven hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out four. Jerry Manning improved his record to 2-0 this season by going two innings with one earned run in relief of Campbell.
The Texans will return to action against Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday, March 5 at the Cecil Ballow Complex in Stephenville. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
