- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – Evan Robinson's bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth gave Tarleton (1-0) its first win of 2012 in Saturday's season opening, 2-1 win over McMurry (0-1).
 
The walk-off single saved a masterful pitching performance by three Texan hurlers, who kept Tarleton in the game despite offensive struggles.
 
Starter Matt Buckmaster had a rocky top of the first when a leadoff walk came around to score on an RBI single up the middle. The junior got some help from his battery mate as catcher Ryan Small who gunned down a runner to end the inning. Small hosed three attempted base stealers on the afternoon.
 
After the opening frame, Buckmaster was in control. The Texan lefty blanked McMurry over the next six innings and came out after seven innings in which he allowed one run on five hits while striking out four.
 
The offense got Buckmaster off the hook in the fifth inning when back-to-back doubles by Noah Ringenberger and Robinson led to an RBI infield single by Small to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The 1-1 score went into the ninth, where the action really got going.
 
After working a flawless eighth inning, Tarleton's Kenneth Stockton ran into some problems in the top of the ninth.
 
McMurry opened the inning with back-to-back singles and had runners on the corners with nobody out, which prompted a pitching change from Tarleton head coach Bryan Conger.
 
The Texan skipper called on righty Britt Robertshaw, who struck out the first two batters he faced before forcing a weak groundball to first baseman Garrett Hardey.
 
In the bottom of the frame, freshman Landon Thompson hit an infield single to the hot corner then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
 
Andrew Wolfe drew a walk and Ringenberger was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Robinson, prompting McMurry to make a pitching change and call on Drew Coleman.
 
With a 2-2 count, Robinson got a pitch he could handle and served a soft liner into left field to score Thompson from third.
 
Robertshaw earned the victory in his Texan debut while Ringenberger and Robinson recorded two hits each in their first Tarleton game. Small, Thompson and Chris Patton also had hits for Tarleton.
 
Tarleton will host McMurry against Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.