Box Score, Game 1
Box Score, Game 2
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan baseball team opened the 2010 season splitting its doubleheader with Colorado Christian. The Texans (1-1) won the first game 3-2 in 10 innings before falling to the Cougars (1-1) 3-1 in the nightcap.
“Defensively we did just enough in the first game,” Tarleton head coach Bryan Conger said. “Then we just couldn't execute in the second game.
Tarleton opened the season scoring its first run on a steal at home plate. After a walk to begin the first inning, Junnior Dishmey then made his way over to third base and headed towards home plate before CCU pitcher Jeff Ross knew what was going on. Provow made his pitch to the plate, but it bounced in the dirt and Dishmey touched the plate before the catcher could get the tag down.
With one out in the bottom of the second inning, Zane Hensley singled to right field and then moved to second with his first stolen base of the season. James Mays then recorded his first-ever hit and run batted in for the Texans that allowed Hensley to score and give Tarleton a 2-0 lead.
CCU tied the game 2-2 with a two-run single from Doug Pavlich in the top of the third inning. Texan starting pitcher Ryan Salt managed to control the Cougar threat though as he got Michael Cavazos to line out on the next pitch.
Game one was originally scheduled for seven innings, but with the score tied 2-2 after both teams traded outs in the seventh the game was forced to go into extra innings.
The Texans had their chances over the next two innings, but were unable to come away with any runs until the 10th. Dishmey led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the right side and then later came around to score his second run of the game on Chris Casazza's single to left field.
The Texans finished the game with 10 hits eight stolen bases. Dishmey led the charge with three stolen bases on the day.
Nathan Lewis (1-0) picked up the win for Tarleton, throwing two innings of no-hit baseball in relief. He struck out two of the six batters he faced. Salt earned the no-decision after working six full innings and allowing the two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Kenneth Stockton worked two innings for the Texans as well, allowing no hits and striking out one.
“I was happy with all three pitchers in the first game,” Conger said. “Each of them pitched really well today, coming in and throwing strikes. They put pressure on the hitters getting ahead early in the counts and that is what put us over the top in game one.”
Ross got the start for the Cougars and was followed by Austin Bell and Craig Provow. All three pitchers worked three full innings before Lawson Cheek (0-1) came into the game in the 10th inning. Cheek was saddled with the loss after getting just two outs in the inning.
The Cougars drew first blood in the second game, crossing the plate three times in the second inning. Cavazos reached first base on an error and Chris Guyer followed with a double to left field. Cavazos moved to third and both players scored on a single to center field from David McKendrick. McKendrick then later scored on an RBI single by Ryan Serena that put CCU up 3-0.
Tarleton scored its only run in the bottom of the third inning when Tim Rainey singled and later scored on a ground out by Dishmey.
CCU's Jake Logan (1-0) was able to keep the Texan hitters at bay allowing just the one run on two hits over the full seven innings to pick up the win for the Cougars.
“You have to tip your hat off to Logan and CCU,” Conger said. “We couldn't do anything, but in the end they just outplayed us.”
Tarleton's Brandyn Greer (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing all three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work. Chris Pearson and Colt Molloy came into the game in relief efforts for the Texans.
The Texans and Cougars will resume the series again tomorrow morning at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex. One nine-inning game is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Mike Ramirez(0-0) is slated to start for the Texans.
