STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan baseball team was able to take one game from the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas on Saturday by the score of 5-3, but fell in game two 6-2 despite finishing the game with 11 hits compared to the Javelinas seven.
The Texans got the scoring started early when Mark Jeffery laid a great bunt down the third base line, allowing him to reach first base. Chris Casazza came up to the plate next and got a hold of a pitch, driving it to left center field and over the fence for a two-run home run. Zane Hensley then singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Charlie Ulbricht came up and hit a single to center field, bringing Hensley in to score the Texans third run of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning the Texans tacked on another when Ulbricht hit a single to left center field before Heath Petty and Nathan Hille walked to load the bases. Junnior Dishmey then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field, allowing Ulbricht to tag up from third and came across the plate, increasing the Texan lead to 4-0.
After a few singles by the Javelinas that put runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Ben Villafuerte stepped up to the plate and hit a single through the right side, scoring Cash Barker and moving A.J. Hecker to third base. The next batter, Trent Wagner, hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field and scored their second run of the afternoon cutting the Texan lead to 4-2.
The Texans added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ulbricht and Andrew Wolfe reached on errors by the Javelinas. Petty then laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing the runners to second and third. Hille then hit a single to left field, bringing in Ulbricht and giving the Texans a 5-2 advantage.
The Javelinas cut the lead to 5-3 when Hecker hit a solo shot to right field but Nathan Lewis came on to record the final three outs of the ball game and giving the Texans the win.
Jake Sowell earned his third win of the season by going six innings with seven hits, three runs, and one walk. Lewis got his fourth save of the season by finishing up the seventh innings with no runs and one strikeout.
TAMUK's Colby Schindler was saddled with the loss after going six innings with ten hits, five runs, two walks and a strikeout.
In the nightcap, it was the Javelinas that got on the board first when Hecker walked and advanced to second on an error by the pitcher. He was then brought home on a single by Villafuerte to give the Javelinas a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third.
The Javelinas increased their lead in the top of the fourth inning as they loaded the bases before a passed ball brought Cody Stigall across the plate. Hecker then came up and hit a sacrifice fly ball to the center field that brought Adrian Williams in to score and move the Javelina lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Texans were able to load the bases before Wolfe was hit by a pitch and brought in Casazza to cut the lead to 3-1.
TAMUK added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning on two hits which brought the Javelina lead to 5-1.
In the top of the eighth inning the Javelinas tacked on another run as Barker reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a groundout by Hecker. Jared Moore then came on to pinch hit and knocked a single to right center field that brought Barker across the plate and bring the score to 6-1.
The Texans tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as they managed to score a run but after loading the bases a line out to first base ended the ball game with the final score of 6-2.
Brandon Van Riper (1-3) took the loss for the Texans by going six innings with three hits, three runs, six walks and seven strikeouts. Mike Ramirez came in for relief work, going one inning with two hits, two runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. Brandyn Greer also had some relief work with two innings, two hits, one run and two walks.
Dan Rogers was the winning pitcher for the Javelinas as he pitched a complete game with 11 hits, two runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Texans will return to action on Tuesday, March 30 in San Antonio as they take on Incarnate Word. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
