Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STEPHENVILLE – The No. 18-ranked Tarleton State Texans split its series-ending doubleheader with Arlington Baptist on Saturday, downing the Patirots 7-5 in game one before falling 10-7 in the nightcap.
 
The Texans moved to 9-3 overall with the split, while the Patriots move to 4-8 on the year.
 
Tarleton fell behind 2-0 in game one, but used a five-run second inning to take the lead and the Texans never looked back.
 
Kevin Meredith, Jake Klauck, Rustin Thomas, Alvaro Moreno and Noel Nevarez all drove in runs in the fifth inning, and starting pitcher Robert Baker (W, 3-1) shook off the two-run first inning to lead the Texans to victory.
 
The Texans added a home run from Nevarez in the fifth inning and Thomas doubled home a run in the sixth inning to give the Texans a 7-2 lead before the Patriots managed to tack on a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Ethan Lenz (S, 4) came in to shut down the one batter he faced in the bottom of the seventh to earn his fourth save of the season and secure the victory.
 
The Texans snapped a nine-game winning streak at home with the loss in game two, but despite the loss, Tarleton managed to shake a seven-run deficit and rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before recording the final out of the contest.
 
Down 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Garrett Kilgore and Nevarez led off the frame with back-to-back home runs to pull the Texans within a run, but a six-run seventh inning pushed Arlington Baptist's lead to 10-7.
 
With two outs and a runner onin the bottom of the ninth inning, Kilgore and Nevarez drove in back-to-back runs to make it a 10-6 game and then after reaching third base, Nevarez scored on a wild pitch.
 
The rally came to an end though and Tarleton dropped its first home contest since falling 7-2 to Abilene Christian back on Apr. 21, last season.
 
Colten Burleson was saddled with the loss in game two, falling to 1-2 on the year. The Patriots' Caleb Sims picked up the win, allowing all seven runs on 12 hits in his 8.2 innings of work.
 
The Texans will return to action next weekend, opening Lone Star Conference play with a four-game set against Eastern New Mexico. The Texans and Greyhounds will get underway with game one of the series next Friday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. in Stephenville.