Box Score, Game 1
Box Score, Game 2
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texans rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the visiting West Texas A&M Buffaloes, 10-9, in game one of a Lone Star Conference series-opening doubleheader, but a ninth inning rally in game two came up a few runs short as Tarleton fell, 8-6, to split Friday's games at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex in Stephenville.
With game one tied 2-2 after the first three innings, WT (7-11, 4-11 LSC) put together back-to-back three-run innings to take an 8-2 lead heading into the Texan half of the fifth inning. Tarleton (12-14, 9-13 LSC) then countered with a four-run bottom of the fifth to pull within two runs of the Buffs.
Freshman outfielder Taylor James led off the inning with a home run on the first pitch he saw and fellow freshman, second baseman Landon McCall, promptly followed with a home run of his own to what looked to be the same spot over the left field fence. Then with one out, Mark Jeffery drew a walk and Zane Hensley singled to center field to move him over to second. Jeffery then shuffled over to third on Tim Rainey's fielder's choice. Hensley was out on the play and then with two outs, Andrew Kapple drove in Jeffery with his single through the left side. Rainey moved to second and then scored on Andy Wolfe's single through the left side as well to make 8-6.
WT tacked on a run in the top of the sixth inning on Heath Baker's home run shot to left field to put the Buffs on top 9-6.
The Texans failed to score in the bottom of the sixth but then made up for it scoring four runs in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Hensley was walked to lead off the inning and then following a pitching change, Rainey singled to center to give the Texans runners at first and second. Kapple then singled through the left side for the second time and Hensley came home to score to make it 9-7.
Heath Petty came in to pinch-run for Kapple and a failed pick-off attempt moved him over to second and Rainey over to third. Wolfe singled to right field, scoring Rainey on the play and moving Petty over to third. Wolfe advanced to second on a ground out, but Petty was forced to stay at third. James was then intentionally walked to load the bases and McCall picked up one of the easiest ways to collect a run batted in as he was walked on five pitches. Petty scored to tie the game and Chris Casazza followed with a walk-off single to left field that scored Wolfe and give the Texans the 10-9 come-from-behind victory.
Nathan Lewis (2-4) was credited with the win after pitching two full innings of one-hit shutout ball. Ryan Salt got the start for the Texans and picked up the no decision after giving up all nine runs on 11 hits.
PJ Granado (0-1) was saddled with the loss despite just working a third of an inning. He gave up two hits and was responsible for the final run that came across the plate to score.
Neither team scored in the first two frames of game two, but Tarleton finally put up the first run in the third inning on an RBI double from Jeffery that scored James on the play.
WT didn't get on the board until the fifth inning, but managed to put up a five-spot in the frame and take a 5-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, McCall was able to reach base on an error and then he later scored on Jeffery's second RBI-double of the game to make it 5-2.
WT tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to make it 6-2 before Tarleton added three runs in the bottom half of the seventh on Casazza's second home run of the season. His shot three-run shot to left field made it a 6-5 game, but WT added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth to go up 8-5.
Tarleton was down to its final out in the ninth before Casazza singled to left. Jeffery then drove him home with his third RBI-double, but that would be the final run the Texans would get across as the rally came up short and Tarleton fell 8-6.
Kenneth Stockton (3-2) was hit with the loss giving up four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Mike Ramirez came into the game in the fifth inning in relief of Stockton and gave up two runs on two hits in his 2.1 innings of work. Lewis worked the final two innings and gave up two runs on four hits while striking out three.
WT's Chad Shands (3-3) picked up his third win of the season after giving up five runs on six hits through 6.2 innings. He threw 123 pitches on the night with 82 of them going for strikes.
Zach Walker (S, 1) came in and got the final out of the game for the Buffs to earn his first save of the season.
Weather permitting, the two teams will meet again tomorrow to conclude the series with a doubleheader at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Stay tuned to TarletonSports.com for more information or for any cancellation news.
