SAN ANGELO – Tarleton and Angelo State went toe-to-toe in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel to begin a four-game series at Foster's Field and the Texans suffered a 3-0 loss Thursday night.

"Those were two good teams playing tonight," said head coach Bryan Conger. "We need to tip our cap to Angelo, they came out and took advantage of our mistakes defensively and got us out of our approach at the plate. Tomorrow is a new day and another opportunity for us to prove ourselves."

Conner Fletcher got the starting nod for Tarleton and went seven innings for the second consecutive start, allowing three runs – only one earned – on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Trent Stafford and Connor Flanagan combined for the final inning of work while keeping Angelo off the board.

The Rams scored two unearned runs in the second and one in the third for their three runs while the Texans stranded one base runner in five innings, including each of the first four, and had their best chance to plate a run in the seventh when Luke Morton wore a pitch and Hunter Hudson singled with two outs. Tarleton stranded two, however, to keep out of the run column.

Tarleton got one hit each from Francisco Rodriguez, Ruben Rodriguez, Dylan Lemons, Morton, and Hudson.

The Texans and Rams will return to action tomorrow at 4 p.m. in San Angelo for a doubleheader.