- Box Score, Game 1
- Box Score, Game 2
ABILENE – The Tarleton Texans came one step closer to earning a berth into the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament with a pair of wins over the No. 9-ranked Abilene Christian Wildcats at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene on Friday. The Texans opened the series with a 4-3 win and then completed Friday's sweep with a 13-7 win in the nightcap.
The Wildcats opened the scoring with an Aaron Oliver home run to left field to put ACU on top 1-0 early. Tarleton quickly erased the deficit with an Andrew Kapple's solo shot to left field that tied the game 1-1.
Tarleton then took the lead in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run from Chris Casazza. His 13th home run of the season put the Texans up 3-1.
Tarleton pushed its lead to three runs in the top of the fourth when Andy Wolfe tripled and then later scored on a balk.
ACU opened the bottom of the fourth inning with three straight hits. The third hit, a single up the middle from Clint Bowker, brought home two Wildcat runners that pulled ACU to within a run, down 4-3.
Ryan Salt pitched a pair of three-up-three-down innings in both the fifth and sixth inning to secure the one-run lead heading into the seventh. Nathan Lewis then came into the game and shut the Wildcats down to earn his seventh save of the season.
Salt improved to 4-5 with the win, allowing just the three runs on four hits and striking out two.
Cameron Aspaas was saddled with the loss, allowing all four runs on four hits. The ACU pitcher was relieved in the middle of the fourth inning after getting hit with the ball in the back of the head on a throw from the catcher to second base after a steal attempt by the Texans.
Casazza went 2-for-3 in the game, while netting his LSC-leading 13th home run of the season. That surpasses his previous career-high of 12 home runs that he hit last season.
The Texans opened the second game with a bang, putting up a five-spot in the top of the first to take a five-run lead early over the Wildcats. Charlie Ulbricht singled with one out and then advanced to second following Mark Jeffery's single to center. Casazza singled and Ulbricht scored. Zane Hensley flied out to center field, moving Jeffery over to third in the process and Kapple followed with a single that allowed Jeffery to come home. Andy Wolfe followed with a triple, his second of the day, driving in both Casazza and Kapple. Tim Rainy then singled through the left side allowing Wolfe to come home and make it a 5-0 game.
ACU then put up a run in both the second and third innings to pull within three runs of the Texans, but Tarleton countered in the top of the fourth with four more runs to take a 9-2 lead. Casazza had a two-RBI double, Hensley had an RBI single and Rainey scored on an error from the pitcher.
The Wildcats picked up another run in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 9-3 game, but Tarleton again added to its lead with another run in the top of the sixth to make it 10-3.
The Wildcats pulled to within six runs with another run in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 10-4 game still in favor of the Texans.
ACU then added three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 10-7 game, but Tarleton countered with a three-run inning of their own to make it a 13-7 game.
Lewis came into the game in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the final two outs and the Texans got the sweep over the Wildcats with the 13-7 victory.
Jake Sowell (6-2) got the win, working 6.0 full innings and allowing just four runs on eight hits while striking out two. Brandyn Greer worked the next 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits before Lewis closed out the game in a non-save situation.
Tarleton improves to 24-22 overall and more importantly, 20-18 in the LSC. With one more win, or a loss from Eastern New Mexico and Northeastern State, the Texans will lock up a berth into the LSC Championship Tournament next weekend in Abilene.
The Texans and Wildcats will resume the series again tomorrow, with another doubleheader at Crutcher Scott Field. First pitch of game one is set for 3:05 p.m.
