- Box Score - Game 1
- Box Score - Game 2
ODESSA – The Tarleton baseball team defeated No. 27 Incarnate Word in the morning and came up just short against New Mexico Highlands in the afternoon as the Texans completed day one of the UTPB Classic.
Game 1 – Tarleton 11, No. 27 Incarnate Word 4
The Texans picked up their biggest win yet this season by upsetting the Cardinals in the first game of the weekend. Tarleton scored 11 runs and benefited from five UIW errors in the game en route to the victory.
In the top of the second inning, the Texans broke open a scoreless game with a sacrifice fly by Jared Musgrove that scored Ethan Stuckly for a 1-0 lead.
Tarleton piled on the runs in the top of the third Andy Wolfe scored on a wild pitch, Stuckly sacrificed Ringenberger with a bunt and Hardey ripped an RBI single to left. With that, the Texans led 4-0.
UIW would not stay silent all day though and responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning.
With a 4-3 lead, the Texans could have just been content and hold the lead, but head coach Bryan Conger's squad was not ready to take the foot off the pedal.
In the fifth, sixth and eighth innings, Tarleton added a single run. In the seventh and ninth innings, the Texans recorded two runs each. The seven runs in the last five innings were too much for the nationally ranked Cardinals to come back from as Tarleton won their fourth game of the season.
Texan starting pitcher Matt Buckmaster (2-0) was very effective on the mound and took advantage of the run support. Buckmaster gave up just three earned runs and struck out seven in seven innings of work. Tanner Ross came in to relieve Buckmaster and tossed two perfect innings to close out the Cardinals.
Reigning Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the year and the Preseason Pitcher of the Year Kirk Jewasko was roughed up by the Texan line-up and suffered the loss. Jewasko (0-1) gave up five runs, four earned, on three hits and five walks in five innings of work. Tarleton managed at least one run off of all four UIW pitchers.
Chris Patton led the Texans' offense with a 3-for-4 day, an RBI and two runs scored. Hardey finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI's while Ringenberger, Evan Robinson, Stuckly and Musgrove also drove in runs.
Tarleton managed to steal four bases and recorded five hit-by-pitches.
Conger talked about his team's victory afterwards.
“We did a good job of taking advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves,” said Conger. “Any way we can get a win against the defending conference champion champs, we will take it.”
Game 2 – New Mexico Highlands 4, Tarleton 2
The Texans were looking to sweep day one of the UTPB Classic and improve to 5-0 on the year, but a dangerous New Mexico Highlands squad snuck in and spoiled Tarleton's plans, 4-2.
Tarleton struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a Stuckly RBI single to right, plating Ringenberger.
NMHU tied the game in the top of the third with a solo home run. The Texans quickly answered though and took back the lead on an RBI double by Stuckly in the bottom of the third.
Once again, the pesky Cowboys came back with an answer and tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth.
Unfortunately for Tarleton, NMHU got the final say and a two-run seventh ended the Texans' hopes. Tarleton fell 4-2 in a hard fought, nine-inning affair.
Kyle Supak (0-1) was handed the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 2/3 innings of work.
Kenneth Stockton, Austin Coble and Tucker Mullens were effective for the Texans out of the bullpen, combining for two perfect innings of work.
Stuckly collected both RBI's for Tarleton while Ringenberger scored both runs. As a team, the Texans recorded five hits in the game.
Conger discussed the second game of the day.
“New Mexico Highlands played better than we did,” said Conger. “We had opportunities to get some things done and we didn't do them. We need to continue to work the process of truly playing one pitch at a time and controlling the things we have the ability to control.”
The Texans will look to rebound on Saturday when they take on host Texas-Permian Basin in the morning game and Eastern New Mexico in the afternoon.
For results and more information regarding the 2012 Texan baseball season, check out TarletonSports.com.
