SAN ANTONIO – Whether it's coming at the end of a pitcher's duel or in an offensive showcase, Tarleton has put its mental and physical toughness on display for the region and nation to see in its last two games.
 
Less than a week removed from getting an extra-inning walk-off single from Jake Hasbrouck to beat No. 16 Henderson State, Tarleton found itself in a similar situation Friday evening when the Texans answered the call.
 
Landon Thompson, a fifth-year senior and team captain, stepped off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single into right field with two outs in the top of the ninth and the Texans trailing 8-7. The captain's single was followed up by another two-out base knock from Zach McCown, who moved Thompson's pinch runner Forrest Perron into scoring position.
 
Enter Matt Olive.

The four-year senior outfielder stepped up and delivered the game-tying blow with an RBI single back up the middle to plate Perron and tie the game at 8-8. It was Olive's first RBI of the season.
 
After Hunter Houston danced around trouble over two innings of work, Tarleton went into the top of the 11^th inning looking to take one final lead.
 
Tarleton got a leadoff single from Dalton Richardson and a one-out single from Peter McMahon, with a crucial sacrifice bunt in between from Garret Kizer, to set up first-and-third with one away. The McMahon single forced the Rattlers to dip into their bullpen.
 
After getting the second out right away, the St. Mary's hurler walked Stacy Heinatz to set up base loaded and two away for senior shortstop Alec Humphreys.
 
Humphreys delivered.
 
The senior captain from Midlothian coaxed a free pass to walk home the game-winning run in a career day. Humphreys went 5-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs, and a walk. He becomes the 14^th Texan in school history with five hits in a game, which ties the school record.
 
Landon Merka followed up Humphreys with an RBI single of his own to tack on an insurance run and make things 10-8. Houston stayed in the game for his third inning of work and retired the side in order to secure Tarleton's fourth win of the season.
 
The late inning heroics followed up a seesaw affair for the first eight innings, which started with an RBI triple from Merka in the top of the first to plate Humphreys and get Tarleton on the board first. After a three-run bottom of the first, Tarleton chipped away with another in the second on an RBI single into left field from Humphreys to make it 3-2 after an inning and a half.
 
Tarleton took a 5-3 lead with three in the fourth on RBIs from Heintaz, Humphreys and Merka, but the Rattlers answered back with a 2-RBI double in the ensuing half inning to tie the game at 5-5.
 
The teams started trading runs in the top of the seventh when Richardson plated Hunter Seales on an RBI double. After the Rattlers scored two in the bottom of the inning, Tarleton tied the game again at 7-7 on a sacrifice fly from Humphreys for RBI No. 3 on the afternoon.
 
A leadoff home run by the Rattlers in the bottom of the eighth put St. Mary's on top and set up the late-inning push by the Texans.
 
Humphreys wasn't the only Texan with a big day at the dish.
 
As a team, the Texans recorded 21 base hits on the day. Merka went 4-for-6 while Olive was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Seales, Richardson, and McCown each had two hits while Jake Hasbrouck, Thompson, and McMahon each had one.
 
Jacob French earned the starting nod for the Texans. In his first start since March 21, 2014, the right-hander from Kingwood gave Tarleton four innings of work over which he surrendered five runs on six hits and a pair of strikeouts. Blain Bagley, who pitched the next 2.2 innings, allowing a pair of runs on three hits, relieved him.
 
Troyal Yosko faced six batters in an inning of work before turning the ball over to Austin Drolette, who made his season debut, for the final out of the eighth inning. Houston earned the win by throwing the final three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
 
The Texans and Rattlers will take the field tomorrow for a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. at the Park at St. Mary's.