CANYON – Tarleton State dropped the opening game of this weekend's four-game series with West Texas A&M Friday night with a 6-1 loss.
 
The game started as a pitcher's duel with Tarleton starter Matt Herrick allowing just one run over the first four frames before the Tarleton offense broke through to tie things up in the top of the fifth.
 
In the fifth, the Texans loaded the bases with three singles over the first four batters to set up an RBI fielder's choice from Alec Humphreys to even things up at 1-1. A groundout to second ended the inning, however, after the Texans plated their only run of the game.
 
West Texas A&M answered with solo runs in the fifth and seventh innings and a three spot in the sixth inning to go up 6-1 while Tarleton managed only two baserunners over the rest of the game – a Humphreys single in the eighth and a Jonathan Schmitz hit by pitch to lead off the ninth.
 
Herrick took the loss after tossing the first five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and three walks with a pair of punchouts. Troyal Yosko replaced the Tarleton starter for the sixth inning and was touched up for three runs on three hits.
 
Cole Foster pitched the seventh and allowed a run while Seth Hallmark threw a flawless eighth inning to round out the Texan pitching effort.
 
Humphreys went 2-4 at the dish while Landon Thompson, Matt Olive and Evan Robinson had the rest of Tarleton's five hits.
 
Tarleton State will look to turn things around quickly with a pair of games against the Buffs Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. in Canyon.