- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The Texan baseball team swept the Greyhounds in the weekend series and finished off the series with a ten-run-rule decision on Saturday.
Tarleton needed all three wins over Eastern New Mexico in order to stay in the hunt for the Lone Star Conference regular season title. With that in mind, the Texans got off to a fast start and never looked back.
Leftfielder Ethan Stuckly struck in the bottom of the first for the Texans with a solo home run to left. Third baseman Junnior Dishmey joined in the next at bat with a solo home run to left of his own, giving both players their sixth long balls of the season. The back-to-back home runs gave Tarleton a 2-0 lead as Eastern New Mexico's pitching struggled early on.
The Texans added another run in the second after rightfielder Chris Casazza walked, moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on an error, then scored on another wild pitch.
Tarleton wasn't done though as Stuckly piled on the runs with a three-run blast to right for his second home run of the game and his seventh of the year. The Texans held a 6-0 advantage after two.
The Greyhounds managed to load the bases in the third inning, but Tarleton starter Brandon Van Riper got out of the inning unscathed. Van Riper was dealing early with six strikeouts through the first three shutout innings.
Zane Hensley put the Texans up 7-0 with an RBI double that fell just short of the fence in left. Centerfielder Tim Rainey pushed Hensley across with an RBI double of his own just down the leftfield line. Rainey then scored on an RBI single to left by shortstop Nathan Hille.
Tarleton headed into the fourth inning with a 9-0 lead over the Greyhounds.
Eastern New Mexico was able to get on the board in the first on an RBI single to center, breaking up the shutout.
Mark Jeffery got the run back for the Texans with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth, putting Tarleton in double figures on the scoreboard.
Catcher Andrew Kapple put the Texans up 11-1 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Greyhounds in danger of a ten-run rule decision.
ENMU picked up a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single, cutting the deficit back down to nine.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rainey stroked an RBI single, scoring Regan Crim for the 12-2 advantage.
Relievers Chuck Brown and Jake Sowell came on in the top of the seventh to close out the game and seal a 12-2 victory over the Greyhounds.
It was Senior Day for Tarleton and the 15 Texan seniors were recognized throughout the game for their accomplishments and achievements both on the field and off.
All the seniors participated in the weekend sweep of Eastern New Mexico, and head coach Bryan Conger did a great job of getting them all playing time and recognition both Friday and Saturday.
Van Riper (4-3) was awarded the win, giving up just a single run and striking out seven in five innings of work.
Andrew Martin (1-8) was saddled with the loss for the Greyhounds, after getting roughed up for six runs, two earned, on three hits in two innings.
The Texans exploded for 12 runs on 12 hits with all nine starters reaching base for Tarleton. Stuckly led the way with his two home runs and four RBI's, while Rainey drove in two during his 3-for-4 outing. Dishmey, Jeffery, Hensley, Hille and Kapple all provided an RBI as well.
"The kids came out today and played well," said Conger. "They did a great job of playing in the present moment. It was a good day to honor these seniors. They are a tremendous bunch."
The Texans host Hardin Simmons Tuesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. for the final home game of the 2011 season.
