STEPHENVILLE –
Zach Fleet delivered four RBIs for Tarleton State, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, which proved to be the difference in a 5-4 Texan win over No. 13 St. Mary's Tuesday.
St. Mary's struck first in the top of the second with a two-run home run, but the Texans didn't take long to respond by battling back to tie things up with a pair in the bottom of the third.
In Tarleton's first scoring frame,
Evan Robinson got a two-out rally started by taking a hit by pitch.
Alec Humphreys drew a walk to set up two on and two outs before
Zach Fleet cashed in with an RBI single into right field to cut the deficit down to one.
Kevin Meredith followed up with a line drive back up the box for a game-tying RBI single to plate Humphreys.
After a scoreless fourth and a shutdown top of the fifth from
Cole Foster, Robinson and Humphreys led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit and a walk to bring Fleet back up in an run-producing opportunity.
The Texan catcher took advantage of the opportunity by lifting off to deep left center for a three-run home run and a 5-2 Tarleton lead after five.
Tarleton ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth when walks loaded the bases with no one out, but
Eythan Lenz came out of the bullpen and shut down the Rattlers with only a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice – which came on a questionable call at first base following an apparent inning-ending double play – coming in to score to make it a 5-4 Texan lead.
Lenz set the Rattlers down in order in the seventh before giving way to
Hunter Houston, who went the final two innings for his seventh save of the season.
Cole Foster earned the win for the Texans, pitching two innings of scoreless work on two hits and two walks. Foster came on in relief of starter
Colton Burleson, who tossed the first two innings, and
Quade Adams, who worked out of a bases loaded jam in the third.
Austin Drolette pitched to three batters in the sixth before handing the ball to Lenz.
Fleet led the offense with two hits and four RBIs while Robinson and
Matt Olive had two hits each, as well. Meredith's RBI single in the third rounded out Tarleton's seven base hits for the afternoon.
Tarleton State will return to action this weekend for the final home series of the year this weekend against West Texas A&M, beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
