The Teams: Tarleton State (18-14, 8-7 WAC) vs. Utah Tech (8-24, 6-9 WAC)
Where: St. George, Utah
Ballpark: Bruce Hurst Field
Day and Time: Friday at 7 p.m. CT, Saturday at 3 p.m. CT, Sunday at 12 p.m. CT
Streaming Platform: WAC International
 
About the Matchup
 
Game Notes
 
• Friday's meeting between the two teams will be the first since the 2021 season when the Texans hosted the Trailblazers. The visitors took the four-game series, 3-1. In the first game, the Purple and White finished on top with a 10-9 final. Utah Tech took the next three games, 5-1, 7-4, 13-9.
• This weekend's series will see Utah Tech host the Texans for the first time. 
• Tarleton State is coming off their first conference sweep over Seattle U in the previous weekend.
• The Trailblazers are coming into the weekend with a five-game losing streak after getting swept by Utah Valley and dropping a pair of midweek games to UNLV. 
• In the midweek game for Seattle U, Washington shut out the Redhawks at 3-0.
 
Quick Hits
• Sophomore Tyson Drake had an incredible weekend at the plate against Stephen F. Austin with three home runs on the weekend to take the lead in home runs for Tarleton State. Drake compiled new season highs in four statistical categories. Drake tallied the lone homer, his 6th of the season, for the Texans in the midweek battle against DBU.
• Senior Grant Garza is in a four-way tie for most wins without a loss in the nation at 6-0. 
• Zach Poe claimed a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team.
• Junior Brandon Howell earned the title of WAC Player of the Week on Feb. 26 after one of the best games of his collegiate career at the home opener for the Texans. Howell was also named The Grove Student Athlete of the Month for February.
• With 18 total home runs on the season for the Purple and White, seven Texans have contributed to the success at the plate. Tyson Drake comes in first with five, Brandon Howell follows closely behind with four, Cole Miears and Mason Crews have three each while Kooper Shook, Cris Enriquez and Mason Hammonds each have one a piece. 
• The Texans welcome a new head coach in the 2024 season, Fuller Smith. Smith is accompanied by Nick Zaleski, RD Spiehs and Cody Semler in their inaugural year with the Texan Baseball program. 
•  Saw their best record since 2018, when the Purple and White claimed the LSC Championship and closed out the year with a record of 35-17.
• Right-handed pitcher, Will Stevens was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Stevens takes the slot as the ninth Texan in program history to be selected in the MLB's first year player draft.
 
Fuller Smith Era
       On June 8, 2023, Fuller Smith was named the newest leader of Tarleton State's Baseball program. The Alabama, native, has had a hand in the success of various programs, several of which the Texans will face in conference play. In the previous season, Smith wrapped up his three-year stint as an assistant coach for Sam Houston State University. Prior to his time in Huntsville, Smith spent six seasons at UT Arlington as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The 2008 Ole Miss graduate has a plethora of experience that will be a core source of success for the Purple and White this season. The Fuller Smith Era (on the field) will officially commence with the weekend series against the SLU Lions. 
 
First Power 5 Victory
        With a 6-2 win over Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Tarleton baseball picked up its first win over a Power 5 team in program history. The Texans took struck first in the first inning and never gave the lead up. Piercen McElyea played a big part in the win, striking out a season-high 10 in 5.0 innings of work, walking none. McElyea threw a first pitch strike to 18 of 23 batters he faced. In the 2024 season, the Purple and White will face the Bears in Waco on May 7, and the A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, on April 30. 
 
 
In the Box
A handful of returners have put up some impressive stats in the 2024 season and have proven to be a leading force for the Texans at the plate. Tyson Drake leads the team in serveral categories including batting average (.321), runs (39), home runs (7), triples (2), on-base percentage (.452) and slugging percentage (.604) and is tied for most hits (34). Mason Crews is tied for third with three home runs on the season. Trace Morrison is tied for third in doubles (6), is fourth in RBI (20) and is one of five Texans that have tripled this season. Kooper Shook is in second for doubles (7) and has one homer on the season and a sluggling percentage of .409 with a .365 on-base percentage. Cole Miears is tied for most hits (34) and is batting .309. Miears also has six doubles on the season, 23 RBI, and is sitting at a .445 slugging percentage and .449 on-base percentage. Mason Hammonds has also found his stride in the box leading the Purple and White in doubles (9). Hammonds has two home runs on the season and 33 hits. After a grand slam against Seattle U, Cris Enriquez leads the team in RBI (28). Enriquez has 29 hits, six doubles, one triple, and two homers on the season. He is also batting .302 on the season, has a .448 slugging percentage and a .398 on-base percentage. 
 
Facility Upgrades
  The Tarleton Baseball Complex saw a significant facelift in the offseason. Capacity was increased with the complex now seating over 1,000. A cantilever roof structure providing cover was added and a new press box was installed. This comes after new turf, lights and outfield wall were installed prior to the 2022 season. This scope was phase two for the baseball facility that will continue to see renovations over the coming months.
 
 
Strength in Numbers
  With a 40-man roster in the 2024 season, the Texans have a great balance of experience within the program. The Tarleton State roster is made up of nine freshman, five sophomores, 15 juniors, and 10 seniors. Out of the 25 upperclassmen on the team, only nine are new to Texan Nation. 
 
Next Up
After the weekend in St. George, the Texans will head back to the Lone Star State to host New Mexico State for a pair of midweek meetings. 
 
Recognition
         To kick off the season, Senior, Zach Poe found his name on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team. The Madisonville, Texas, native is a strong arm for the Texans leading the team with the best ERA and WHIP on the 2023 season. The right-handed pitcher also led the team in appearances for the third consecutive season with 23, all out of the bullpen. On Feb. 26, Brandon Howell took the WAC Player of the Week title. In the home opener for the Purple and White, Howell had one of his best collegiate career games with two home runs, one tying the game for the home team and the second winning the game with a walk-off grand slam. Howell also received The Grove Student Athlete of the Month for the month of February. He also took the Purple Thursday Special Performance of the Month for February. Senior Grant Garza has the most wins without a loss in the nation and is tied for second most wins in the nation at 6-0.
 
 
Broadcasting On the Worldwide Leader
       Part of the latest renovations to the Tarleton Baseball Complex and Tarleton Softball Complex included the capability to match ESPN standards of multiple camera angles on the broadcast. With that, Tarleton will stream select 2024 baseball and softball home games on ESPN+. All games that are not broadcasted
on ESPN+ will be broadcasted on WAC International. 
 
WAC Preseason Poll
       Tarleton was chosen to finish 9th out of 11 schools in the WAC preseason poll. The poll was released on February 6.  The Texans received 34 total votes and slotted in ahead of Stephen F. Austin and Utah Tech. Grand Canyon was picked to win the league, followed by Utah Valley and California Baptist. 
 
Hometown hero
     Trace Morrison is a Stephenville, Texas, native, that has made a large impact on the Texan Baseball program. The outfielder does a stellar job in the box in the 2023 season leading the Purple and White with a .365 average at the plate. In his first two seasons at Tarleton, Morrison has started in 57 games and made saw time in a total of 68 matchups. The junior has amassed 97 put outs, with only two errors in two years for a .981 fielding percentage. Morrison's experience as a lifelong Texan paired with his consistent dedication to the game makes him a key player for Tarleton Baseball. In the 2024 season, Morrison is batting .301 with 15 runs on 31 hits, six doubles, one triple and 20 RBI.