STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Baseball kickstarted the weekend series with a win Friday evening in Stephenville at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.
Tarleton State (16-14, 6-7 WAC) defeated Seattle U (7-22, 3-7 WAC) in Game 1 on Friday with a 9-3 final after a four-run fifth inning for the Purple and White slammed the door on a tied ball game.
Piercen McElyea got the start for Tarleton State compiling a new season-high in strikeouts with six, but giving up three runs on six hits, and two walks in 3.1 innings. Freshman
Braydon Risley ( W, 1-3) secured his first collegiate win with 5.2 innings, giving up no runs on four hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
Blake Smith (L, 3-3) took the mound to start things off for the Redhawks, giving up seven runs on nine hits, no walks and no strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Mason Hammonds had a stellar night at the plate earning his second home run of the season along with his ninth double of the season.
Cris Enriquez and
Jordan Andrade also tallied doubles for the Texans. The Purple and White totaled five stolen bases on the evening with contributions from
Cole Miears (1),
Trace Morrison (2),
Ike Shirey (1) and
Slade McCloud (1). The Texans finished the night with nine runs on 11 hits.
The Redhawk offense consisted of two home runs and a double for a total of three runs on 10 hits.
The action started in the third inning as the visitors found their way to the board first with a three-run inning. A double from the Redhawks leadoff got things rolling for the guys in red. Back-to-back homers from Seattle U tallied a trio of runs to take the lead early.
Heading into the bottom of the third down by three, the Texans kicked things into gear and added a trifecta of runs to the board to even the score. With one out on the board, Andrade doubled to right center and Hammonds singled to left center to see a pair of runners on for Tarleton State.
Tyson Drake was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Miears also took a hit in the box to put the first run on the board for the Purple and White with the bases still loaded. A fielder's choice saw Enriquez reach first while Drake and Hammonds added a pair of runs for the home team to see a 3-3 score.
The Texans got hot in the bottom of the fifth, adding another four runs to bury the Redhawks. One out on the board saw Hammonds next at the plate. The third baseman for the Texans cranked out his second home run of the season as the ball sailed over the left center wall to hand the lead to Tarleton State. An RBI double from Enriquez made way for Drake to come home. Morrison singled on a bunt to advance Enriquez to third and see two runners on base. An RBI single from Shook brought Enriquez home and Shirey's single to second followed by an error from Seattle U paved the way for Morrison to bring the lead to 7-3. In the bottom of the fifth, three Texans were left stranded as a fly out closed out a big inning for the guys in purple.
In the Texans' half of the seventh inning, Morrison was hit by a pitch to add the first runner on. With a pair of outs on the board, Morrison stole second and advanced to third on an error. Shirey made his way to first after being hit at the plate. Shirey stole second while Morrison stole home to tally the eighth run.
The bottom of the eighth saw another lone run for the Purple and White. Andrade singled to left to start off the inning. McCloud came in to pinch run for Andrade and stole second. With a pair of outs and McCloud at third base, Miears singled to center to bring in McCloud for the final run of the evening.
A scoreless top of the ninth secured the win for the home team with a 9-3 final.
Game 2 will commence Saturday at 3 p.m. Prior to the game, old school Tarleton State jerseys, baseball hats and more will be available for purchase with all proceeds going back to the Tarleton State Baseball program. The Saturday Spring Sale will begin at 2 p.m. and will conclude at the end of the game.
