STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton's offense responded in a big way with eight runs on 16 hits on Saturday after mustering just two hits in Friday's loss.
The Texans' (10-5, 0-2 WAC) offensive outburst was met by UTA (7-7, 2-0 WAC) who managed 16 hits of its own, plating eight runs in the final three frames to secure a series victory.
Tarleton took a 6-4 lead in the fourth inning as shortstop
Mason Hammonds launched a two-run home run to right field, scoring
Jordan Andrade. They held onto that lead for two more innings until UTA brought three runs home in the seventh inning, reclaiming the lead at 7-6. They went on to score three more in the eighth and two in the ninth, with Tarleton unable to keep pace.
Dylan Delvecchio got the start on the mound for the Texans and pitched a season-high 6.0 innings allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking four. He exited the game with a 6-4 Texan lead.
Matt Haley (L, 0-1) was hit with the loss as he pitched the eighth inning, allowing two runs on one hit as UTA took the 10-7 lead. They tacked on two more in the ninth with
Peyton Hutson on the mound for Tarleton. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits.
The Texans were led offensively by
Kooper Shook and
Trace Morrison who each had three hits and totaled four runs scored. Shook also added two stolen bases, running his tally up to 11 for the season.
Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo and
Mason Hammonds each pitched in two hits and two RBI.
UTA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Tyson Pointer hit a two-run home run to right field. Tarleton answered back by scoring in the following four innings plating one each in the first and second and two each in the third and fourth.
Pointer and Garrison Berkley led the Mavericks with three hits and two RBI each. Three Mavericks finished with two hits and two RBI. Jack Hagan (W, 1-0) earned the win throwing the final 2.2 innings in relief allowing a lone run on three hits. The Texans chased starter Brayden Brooks after 3.0 innings as he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits.
Tarleton will try and avoid a series sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.