Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – After an action-packed first four innings, Tarleton State was outdueled 1-0 over the final five innings of Saturday's elimination game against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas at Suplizio Field.
 
"It was a good game and you have to tip your hat to Kingsville," said head coach Bryan Conger. "We had our opportunities but we just weren't able to get it done. In a game like this when almost everyone is out of pitching, it's about capitalizing and we just didn't capitalize."
 
Feeling the effects of an injury-plagued pitching staff, Tarleton turned to sophomore Troyal Yosko for the start.
 
Yosko was touched up for four quick runs in the first inning but settled down and pitched the second and third innings with just one more coming across the plate, giving Tarleton a much-needed three innings of work.
 
The offense answered right back in the third inning after a single and an error set up a three-run home run – the first of the tournament for Tarleton – by Rustin Thomas. Tarleton plated two more after Dalton Weeks plated Garrett Kilgore, who tripled, and then the Kingsville pitcher threw a two-out, two-on pickoff attempt up the right field line for the tying run.
 
In the fourth inning, Texas A&M-Kingsville hit the go ahead home run with a two-run shot over the left field wall before Tarleton fought back for one more in the bottom half on an error to make it 7-6.
 
In the fifth, Tarleton's Ethan Lenz came on in relief and allowed just one run – a solo homer in the eighth – to keep Tarleton in the game, but the offense couldn't get any more across en route to the loss.
 
"Lenz was great, and Yosko was too after that first inning," said Conger. "Yosko battled and gave us some innings and you can't say enough about what Lenz gave us. We needed someone to step up and give us a chance and he did that."
 
Colton Burleson took the loss, allowing the go ahead two-run home run in his one inning of work while Garrett Kelly pitched a nearly flawless ninth to round out the pitching performance for Tarleton.
 
Alvaro Moreno had three hits in his final game with the Texans while Jared Musgrove, Thomas, Noel Nevarez, Kilgore and Luke Slentz had one hit each.
 
This is Tarleton's third trip to the NCAA South Central Regional and now have a record of 2-6 all time in the national tournament.