Box Score, Game 1
Box Score, Game 2
STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texans split their first day doubleheader with the Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm. The Savage Storm took the first game by the score of 3-0, while the Texans earned the victory in the second game 8-6.
In the first game, the pitchers were going head to head allowing no runs until the top of the sixth inning when Southeastern Oklahoma center fielder hit a solo homerun to left center field to break the tie. Ryan Salt was able to get out of the inning with the 1-0 deficit.
The Texans threatened in the bottom of the sixth when Charlie Ulbricht walked and Heath Petty doubled to center field but a popup and a line out to center left them still down by the score of 1-0.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Storm's Casey Gibson hit a single and came all the way around on a double by pinch hitter Mike McCollum down the right field line. McCollum moved to third when Torey Oller hit into a fielder's choice, where both runners were safe. Two batters later Miller hit a sacrifice fly into centerfield to bring in McCollum, giving the Storm a 3-0 advantage.
The Texans were unable to make anything happen in the bottom of the seventh as the Storm claimed the victory. Ryan Salt went a complete game for the Texans with seven hits, three earned runs, and seven strikeouts. Heath Wyatt was the pitcher for the Storm as he came in for two innings of relief work for starter Jimmy Johnson. Wyatt allowed two hits and a walk while Johnson allowed four hits, five walks, with five strikeouts in five innings.
Tim Rainey hit .500 from the plate while Casazza went one-for-one and also collected three walks.
In the nightcap, Southeastern Oklahoma got on the board early when Tarleton pitcher Kenneth Stockton walked two straight batters before a blooper went over his head to load the bases. The Storm's next batter K.C. Pfister hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Justin Miller. On the next play, Tarleton catcher Andrew Kapple overthrew his second baseman allowing Stephen Garrett to come in and give Southeastern a 2-0 lead.
Tarleton was able to cut the lead to 2-1 when Taylor James tripled to left field. After a walk by Casazza, Landon McCall laid down a sacrifice bunt to the right side, allowing Petty to score. The Texans threatened to tie the game with the bases loaded and two out but eventually the side was retired.
The Texans went ahead with a five-run fourth inning. Heath Petty singled through the left side and James reached on an error by the third baseman. After a walk by Casazza, a wild pitch scored Petty and moved the Texan runners to second and third. McCall hit a ground ball to short stop that scored James and moved Casazza to third base. Tim Rainey then walked before Zane Hensley hit a fly ball to right field that dropped between three Storm players and scored Casazza. With Rainey and Hensley on base Mark Jeffery singled to bring both players around and move the score to 6-2 in favor of the Texans.
Tarleton was able to tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning when James reached on an error by the third baseman. Casazza walked right after, advancing James to second base. The Texans then pulled off a double steal putting the runners on second and third. McCall then hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to allow James to come across the plate and put the Texans up by the score of 7-2.
The Storm rallied back with a four-run sixth inning to pull the game back to within one run.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tarleton added on an insurance run when hit a solo home run to right center to move the score to the eventual final of 8-6.
Stockton took the win for the Texans by going five innings with four hits, one earned run, six walks and five strikeouts. Dan McKinney took the loss after coming in for 4.2 innings of relief work for starter C.J. Stewart. McKinney gave up four hits, six earned runs, and six walks while also collecting five strikeouts.
Hensley went three-for-five with two runs and two runs batted in while McCall also added another three runs batted in.
The Texans will be in action again tomorrow against the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma as they finish up their four-game series with the first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
