Box Score
Stephenville – The Tarleton Texans snapped a nine-game losing streak to St. Mary's by defeating the Rattlers, 10-8, in non-conference action at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex in Stephenville on Wednesday.
Zane Hensley got the start on the mound for the Texans and quickly fell behind 6-2 after just 2.1 innings of work. But, Hensley remained in the line-up as the designated hitter that helped generate a five run fourth inning to help out his own cause.
Hensley was on the hook for the loss with the Texans down by four runs, but following a bases loaded walk that scored Junnior Dishmey on the play to make it a 6-4 game, the junior out of Florence promptly unloaded the bases to put the Texans on top 7-6.
The Texans then added a run in the fifth inning on Charlie Ulbricht's single up the middle that scored Landon McCall to make it an 8-6 game. Then despite giving up a run in the top of the sixth inning, Tarleton countered with a RBI-single from Heath Petty and a RBI-groundout from McCall to make it a 10-7 game.
Tarleton's Mike Ramirez gave up a run in the eighth inning that made it a 10-8 ballgame, but Nathan Lewis (S, 6) – despite loading the bases – were able to record the final three outs on a pair of strikeouts and an unassisted force out at home to preserve the win and pick up his sixth save of the season.
The win is the first for the Texans over the Rattlers since Feb. 12, 2006.
Ulbricht finished the game with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate and Andrew Kapple provided a spark on offense as well, going 3-for-5 on the day. Tim Rainey and Petty each recorded a multiple-hit game as well, each collecting two hits apiece.
Brandyn Greer (1-2) picked up his first win as a Texan, throwing 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Kenneth Stockton worked 2.0 innings in relief as well.
SMU's Roman Gomez (2-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up the first seven runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. He walked five and struck out five as well.
The Texans improve to 19-20 overall on the season and are within a game of .500 for the first time since March 19 when the team was 12-13. The Rattler's fall to 25-12 overall after dropping just the second non-conference game of the season.
Tarleton returns to Lone Star Conference action this weekend with a very important four-game series against Southwestern Oklahoma. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Stephenville.
