- Box Score
STEPHENVILLE – The No. 27 Texan baseball team crushed UT-Permian Basin in the final game of the series Sunday by a score of 12-6. Landon McCall hit a grand slam while Junnior Dishmey hit three home runs en route to Tarleton's 24th victory of the season.
The Falcons struck first with Jeremy Miller's two-run home run to left field in the top of the first inning off Tarleton starter Brandon Van Riper. This marked the first time in the three-game series that the Texans trailed.
Dishmey continued his dominance of UTPB pitching by blasting a solo home run to left-center in the bottom of the first, making it a 2-1 ballgame.
UTPB's Miller added another two-run shot to left-center in the third inning, giving the Falcons a 4-1 advantage.
Once again, Dishmey produced for Tarleton, hitting his second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The solo shot was only Dishmey's third home run of the season and was just what the Texans were looking for to spark a rally.
After loading the bases later in the inning, Tarleton continued its comeback attempt by adding another run on shortstop Travis Hayes' sacrifice fly, scoring designated hitter Mark Jeffery from third. This pulled the Texans within a run with just one out and two men still on base. A walk by catcher Jared Musgrove loaded the bases again.
That is when the second baseman McCall smoked a fastball to deep left-center for a grand slam, giving Tarleton a 7-4 lead. It was an opportune time for McCall to hit his first home run of the year as the Texans took control of the contest.
UTPB got back a run in the sixth on an RBI groundout, but Dishmey answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single, making it an 8-5 contest.
Tarleton added two more to their tally in the seventh on a play resulting in two Falcon errors and an RBI single by Musgrove.
The Falcons picked up one run in the eighth, but by then it was too late.
Dishmey added insult to injury with another two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, pushing the lead to 12-6 in the Texans' favor.
Closer Ryan Turner came in and blanked the Falcons in the ninth, handing Tarleton a 12-6 win and the series sweep.
Jake Sowell (3-0) earned the win for Tarleton for the second straight game, after getting the victory in the night cap on Saturday. Sowell gave up just one run, unearned, on one hit through 2 1/3 innings.
Andrew Buckman (3-3) took the loss for UTPB, getting roughed up for seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Dishmey finished the game 4-for-5, with five RBI's and three runs scored to go with his three home runs. McCall added his four RBI's, while Hayes and Musgrove also drove in a run. As a team, Tarleton recorded 13 hits.
Head coach Bryan Conger talked about his team's overall performance.
"We are very proud of the kids this weekend," said Conger. "They did a very good job of grinding it out one pitch at a time and playing team baseball. When they stay with a "we" over a "me" mentality, they are a very solid ball club."
The Texans (24-7) will next face Hardin Simmons in Abilene April 5 at 6 p.m.
For more information regarding the 2011 Texan baseball season, check out TarletonSports.com.
