RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Tarleton snapped a nine-game losing streak on Wednesday evening at the Riverside Sports Complex, downing the UC Riverside Highlanders 8-2.
Tarleton (15-15) used a five run sixth inning to add to their 3-1 lead and make it 8-1, effectively putting the Highlanders (6-23) out of reach.
Fontana, California, native
Cris Enriquez had a big game for the Texans in the first game in his home state this season. The Texans designated hitter finished with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored. His two-run home run to right field in the third inning made it 3-1. Enriquez now has three, three-hit games in his last four games played.
Devon Patel (W, 2-0) got the start for Tarleton and picked up the win as he threw a career-high 5.0 innings allowing a lone run on three hits. He struck out three and walked two.
Tarleton struck first in the top of the first as
Jack Wagner singled up the middle, scoring
Mason Hammonds who led the game off with a double to right center field.
UCR responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game, the only tie they saw. The Texans never trailed throughout.
The five run sixth inning for Tarleton saw them bat around the order. Enriquez started the scoring with an RBI single through the left side. Fellow California native
Jordan Andrade followed that with an RBI double to deep left center field to score Enriquez. Freshman
Tyson Drake singled to center field to score Andrade, making it 6-1. The final two runs of the game for Tarleton came off the bat of
Trace Morrison who hit a two-run single to left field. Morrison finished with two hits, his 11th multi-hit performance this season.
Grant Garza tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Patel, allowing just one hit.
Reece Elston pitched 1.0 inning in the eighth, allowing a run on three hits, striking out three.
Jon Cordaway pitched the ninth and closed the door on the Highlanders, striking out two.
Tarleton will stay in Riverside as they take on California Baptist in a three-game WAC series this weekend. Friday's first pitch is slated for 8 p.m. CT and all three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
