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

STEPHENVILLE – The No. 30 Tarleton baseball team held on for a 7-6 victory in game one before taking game two 7-4 for a doubleheader sweep.

Closer Ryan Turner sets a new Tarleton record for saves in a season with his ninth and 10^th saves of the year.

The Texans struck first in the opening inning when designated hitter Mark Jeffery plated leftfielder Ethan Stuckly with a sacrifice fly to left. First baseman Zane Hensley added another run on his RBI single to center, putting Tarleton up 2-0.

Eastern New Mexico got a run back in the second on a sacrifice fly to right, cutting the lead to one.

Tarleton got two more runs in the second with a bases loaded walk by third baseman Junnior Dishmey and another sacrifice fly by Jeffery. This put Tarleton up 4-1 after two innings.

The Greyhounds answered with a single run in the fourth, making it 4-2 in favor of the Texans.

Rightfielder Chris Casazza added his 14^th home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth when his fly ball cleared the fences for a solo shot. Catcher Andrew Kapple followed that up with a two-run blast to left-center, giving Tarleton a 7-2 advantage.

ENMU threatened in the sixth with the bases loaded and just one out. That is when Greyhound shortstop Alex Schultz hit a grand slam to cut the margin to just a single run after Tarleton had built up a considerable lead.

But closer Ryan Turner would come and shut the door on Eastern New Mexico's comeback, earning his ninth save of the season, tying the single season school record set last year by Nathan Lewis.

Lewis (7-1) got the start today and earned the win after giving up just two runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking out five through five innings of work.

Greyhounds' starter Marcus Drake (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after getting roughed up for seven runs, five earned, on six hits in 4 2/3 innings on the mound.

Jeffery and Kapple both led the Texan offense with two RBI's apiece, while Dishmey, Hensley and Casazza all provided an RBI of their own. Tarleton collected seven hits as a team and drew five walks from ENMU's pitchers.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively as the pitchers set the pace of the game. Tarleton starter Ryan Salt cruised through the first three innings.

The Texans managed a run in the bottom of the second when Tarleton used some smart base running to get a man across. With Casazza on third and Rainey on first, Rainey stole second and drew a throw down from the catcher. On the throw, Casazza took off for home and scored before an errant throw could get there. As a result, Rainey ended up on third and Tarleton ended up with a 1-0 lead after two.

The Greyhounds were finally able to put a tally on the board with back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth that gave ENMU a 2-1 lead.

Shortstop Nathan Hille tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double to right-center that scored Casazza from first.

ENMU took the lead back the next half inning when the Texans failed to turn an inning ending double play and allowed a run to score.

Dishmey responded for Tarleton quickly as he drilled a fastball with two outs to opposite field that cleared the fences for a solo home run, tying the game at three all.

But once again, the Greyhounds jumped back ahead with an RBI bunt single, making it 4-3 in favor of Eastern New Mexico.

Dishmey was the usual suspect again in the bottom of the seventh when his RBI single to right evened the game at 4-4. The Texans would not be done that inning however.

After fighting from behind all game, Hensley finally gave Tarleton the lead and momentum with a three-run bomb to right-center, putting the Texans ahead 7-4.

Then for the second straight game, Turner was called upon to prevent a late Greyhound rally and for the second straight game, Turner was lights-out. He threw a perfect ninth to pick up his school-record 10^th save of the season.

Reliever Brandyn Greer (5-0) picked up the win after tossing 3 2/3 strong innings for the Texans.

Offensively, Tarleton was led by Dishmey's 2-for-4 day and two RBI's, while Hensley drove in three and Hille drove in one. The Greyhounds out-hit the Texans in both games Friday, but Tarleton left fewer men on base overall.

Head coach Bryan Conger talked about his team's efforts after the game.

"We are extremely proud of the way the kids hung tough today and found a way to win two hard fought games,"  said Conger.  "Coach Clabaugh and his team played well and they played hard, which they always do.  Our kids did a good job of focusing on one pitch at a time.  We have challenged them to really be in the present moment tomorrow.  We look forward to watching them compete against that concept."

Tarleton improves their record to 32-10 on the year and 20-9 in the Lone Star Conference. They play Eastern New Mexico for the final game of the series Saturday, April 23 starting at 1 p.m.

It will be Senior Day for the Texans so come out and show your support for Tarleton's 15 senior players.