STEPHENVILLE – A six-run seventh inning was too much to overcome as Tarleton fell to St. Mary's 6-3 in a single game at Cecil Ballow Complex Wednesday afternoon.
 
"St. Mary's came out today and took advantage of their opportunities and outplayed us," said head coach Bryan Conger. "We gave away entirely too many at bats and, on the mound, we did a poor job of attacking the strike zone. We will get back to work tomorrow and continue to strive for consistency in our attitude and effort."
 
Tarleton got the scoring started with an RBI single into left field by the reigning Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week, Jake Hasbrouck. Making his first start of the season at first base, Hasbrouck drove home Forrest Perron after the junior second baseman worked a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and then went to third on a bunt single from Alec Humphreys.
 
From there, the game turned into a pitcher's duel through the first six innings.
 
Tarleton got two innings of one-hit work from Austin Drolette, who made the first start of his Texan career Wednesday. Following Drolette, Tarleton got four innings of no-hit work from Daniel Bogue, Alex Gagne, and Will Blanchard to keep Tarleton on top 1-0 heading into the seventh inning.
 
St. Mary's struck for six runs in the seventh, including the two go-ahead runs off Cody Nitson who suffered the loss while not recording an out. Hunter Houston came on an got all three outs of the seventh after the Rattlers added four more.
 
Tarleton added a run in the seventh when Landon Merka scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Landon Merka and another one in the eighth on an opposite field home run for Hasbrouck in his 2-for-4 afternoon at the plate. Hasbrouck was the only Texan with a multi-hit effort on the day.
 
Joining Hasbrouck in the hit column was Perron, Alec Humphreys, Hunter Seales, and Landon Merka.
 
Tarleton, in the midst of its longest home stand of the season, will return to action Friday at 3 p.m. to begin a three-game series with West Texas A&M.