CANYON – Tarleton dropped its series finale at No. 18 West Texas A&M with a 6-1 loss Sunday and will now head home for a crucial four-game home stand against Cameron next weekend in Stephenville to close out the regular season.
 
"This was a good series played by two good teams," said head coach Bryan Conger. "It was a back and forth series all weekend and we were really proud of the way our guys competed."
 
Tarleton scored once in the first when Jake Hasbrouck singled up the middle to score Francisco Rodriguez, who led off the game with a single and stole second, but back-to-back strikeouts put an end to any more runs.
 
After being held in check over the next four frames, the Texans had a big opportunity in the seventh when Ben Mauseth doubled with Luis Rivas on first but his double went for the ground-rule variety and forced Rivas to stop at third instead of tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Hunter Seales loaded the bases by wearing a pitch, but a fielder's choice ended the threat.
 
West Texas A&M put up four in their half of the seventh to pull away for the final score.
 
Rodriguez and Mauseth each had two hits while Hasbrouck accounted for one to round out the five-hit attack.
 
Tarleton will end the season with a four-game series against Cameron and control its own destiny for the final playoff spot. The series begins Friday at 3 p.m. in Stephenville.