- Box Score - Game 1
- Box Score - Game 2

STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton (6-2, 4-2) baseball team swept a double header with the No. 16 Cardinals Saturday at Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex, 3-2 and 13-10.

Miguel Ramirez made the start for the Texans in game one, coming off a week in which he was named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week. Ramirez carried the momentum over from his 10-strikeout performance against Southwestern Oklahoma and held Incarnate Word in check early.

Catcher Andrew Kapple opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with a lead-off home run to left field. Second baseman Landon McCall followed that up with a double and eventually scored on a Mark Jeffery single to left, putting the Texans up 2-0.

Ramirez continued to deal on the mound, only allowing one base runner through the first 3 2/3 innings, which came on a walk to lead off the game. The Cardinals got their first hit of the game in the fourth inning, and drew a walk to put runners on first and second. UIW's Daniel Qualls roped a single to right, but rightfielder Chris Casazza gunned down the runner at the plate to end the inning with Tarleton unscathed.

The Cardinals did manage to get a run in the fifth inning when Brandon Clark doubled, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hector Flores. With the run, UIW was able to pull back within one of Tarleton.

The Texans had an opportunity to pull away when they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Tarleton was unable to capitalize.

After allowing the first batter to reach in the sixth, Ramirez was relieved by closer Ryan Turner, who came in to try and stop any Cardinal comeback attempt. Unfortunately, UIW was able to drive in the runner allowed by Ramirez, giving him his first earned run of the season. It also meant the Cardinals had now tied the game at 2-2.

Ramirez pitched well in the game, giving up just two runs, one earned, on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, but did not factor into the decision. He also struck out three batters in the game.

Both teams entered the seventh inning deadlocked at 2-2 and neither team wanted to give up the deciding run.

With time running out, Tarleton needed to get their offense going if they were going to win the game in seven innings. They got just that when second baseman Travis Hayes drew a one-out walk, and then was pinch ran for by Andrew Wolfe. Mark Jeffery followed with a single to put runners on first and second with just one out for Casazza.

The all-American candidate had been quiet all game but got his first hit at an opportune time. Casazza smashed a single down the left field line, scoring Wolfe for the winning run. 

The walk-off hit gave Tarleton their second win over a ranked team this season.

Casazza joined Jeffery and Kapple with RBI's in the game, while Jeffery led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 outing. As a team, Tarleton recorded nine hits in the game.

Turner (2-0) picked up the win for the Texans after tossing 1 2/3 shut-out innings, giving up just two hits while striking out two.

Reliever Elroy Urbina (0-1) was saddled with the loss for UIW.

The Cardinals struck first in the second game with a two-run home run by Mike De la Rosa in the top of the second inning.

Tarleton starter Shawn Hall was replaced early in the third inning in favor of the more veteran Matt Shannon. Unfortunately, the runners Hall allowed to reach base were both driven to give Incarnate Word a 4-0 after 2 ½ innings.

The Texans responded positively in the bottom of the third when they were able to get back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by Jeffery, Casazza and Reagan Janda. Tarleton was able to add another run when UIW shortstop Matt Flores threw the ball away attempting a double play. That tied the game up at 4-4 heading into the fourth inning.

Tarleton look poised to add more runs in the fourth with runners on first and second and just one out. That is when Hayes stepped up and blasted a line drive to left center, plating Kapple and McCall and giving the Texans a 6-4 lead. Tarleton was able to add their seventh run when Hayes scored on a passed ball by UIW catcher Josiah Rodriguez.

The Cardinals answered with a solo home run courtesy of John Zule in the top of the fifth, making it 7-5 Tarleton.

But once again, the Texans managed to add to their lead with a sacrifice fly by Evan Hensley that scored Stuckly, who had doubled to lead off the inning. McCall was the next Tarleton player to produce a run when he doubled down the left field line, making it a 9-5 Texan advantage.

Incarnate Word refused to go away though, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh, cutting Tarleton's lead in half.

The Texans scored again in the bottom of the seventh after several defensive miscues by the Cardinals scored four unearned runs, giving Tarleton a 13-7 lead.

UIW managed another rally in the top of the eighth, putting three more runs up on the board to make it a 13-10 ball game.

After fighting to keep the Cardinals at bay all game, the Texans finally closed the door on UIW and picked up the 13-10 victory and the double header sweep.

Matt Shannon (1-0) was awarded the win after tossing 2 1/3 innings and giving up just one run on three hits. Ryan Turner picked up his second save of the season with two innings of work, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out five.

Keith Vaquez (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Cardinals, giving up seven runs, five earned, on seven hits.

Hayes led the offense in game two, finishing the day 3-for-6 with two RBI's and three runs. Jeffery, Casazza, Janda, and Hensley all added RBI's for the Texans, while McCall went 2-for-3 with two RBI's.

Tarleton recorded 14 hits in the game and benefited from five Cardinal errors.

Head coach Bryan Conger discussed his team's performance after the game.

“I thought Miguel was excellent in game one and he was pitching on short rest,” said Conger. “He really competed like a warrior out there. Then Casazza got a big base knock for us. I'm proud of our guys for hanging tough.”

“It was typical of college game three's in that there's more offense,” said Conger. “But I thought  (Brandyn) Greer did a great job pitching in the middle for us, and same with Turner who closed the door once again. I thought we battled from top to bottom and got some quality at-bats.”

Tarleton will return to action Tuesday when the finish off the home stand against Texas Wesleyan at 3 p.m. in Stephenville.