STEPHENVILLE – Led by a six-inning start from Evan Pontley, the Tarleton Texans won their 10^th game of the young season and swept the Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith with a 3-2 victory at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex Saturday.
 
"First of all, a lot of credit goes to Coach (Todd) Holland and his kids because they came out today and really got after it," said head coach Bryan Conger. "We scratched out a win and were able to execute some things. We need to regroup this week and have a growth mindset and seek improvement in some areas that will lead us where we want to go."
 
Pontley, who was making his second consecutive start against Fort Smith after defeating the Lions in the final game of the Houston Winter Invitational last weekend, got touched up for one unearned run in the opening frame but then settled down and cruised over six innings.
 
The junior right-hander dealt out seven strikeouts over six innings while allowing only four hits and one walk as he improved his record to 3-0 on the year.
 
Meanwhile, his offense provided just enough with a two spot in the fifth on an RBI groundout from Ben Mauseth, who executed with a ground ball to the right side with Dylan Lemons on third and no one away. The Lions brought the infield in during the next at bat and Jose Reyes made them pay with an RBI single up the middle to plate Luis Rivas, who set up two runners in scoring position with a double to the left center gap.
 
Tarleton tacked on one more in the sixth inning when Blake Adams crossed the plate while the Lions turned a double play to give the Texans a 3-1 lead.
 
The combination of Conner Fletcher, Eli McLane, Nathan Jackson, and Eddie Avila closed out the game from the bump.
 
Fletcher threw the seventh and struck out the side while McLane came on for one out in the eighth. Nathan Jackson came out of the bullpen for a lefty-lefty matchup and won with a swinging strikeout before giving way to Avila for the four-out save. It was Avila's fourth save of the season.
 
Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit for Tarleton in the nine-hit effort while Jose Reyes led the way with a 2-for-3 afternoon.
 
The Texans will return to action next weekend with a four-game home series against West Texas A&M in a non-conference series. The first game of the series is set for Friday at 3 p.m.