STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State battled back from an early deficit and delivered late-game heroics as the Texans secured an 11-10 extra-inning victory over Air Force on Sunday afternoon at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex.
Tarleton State (19-8) swept the season series against Air Force and improved to 7-0 against Mountain West Conference teams. The Falcons (10-15) suffered three straight losses to the Texans in the first-ever meeting between the two.
Air Force struck quickly in the top of the first inning, plating four runs on five hits to take an early 4-0 lead. Tarleton State responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame. After loading the bases, Ike Shirey delivered a three-RBI double down the left field line, cutting the deficit to one and energizing the Texans' offense.
Tarleton State continued to chip away in the third inning when Rayner Heinrich launched a solo home run to left field to even the score at 4-4. The Falcons regained the lead in the fourth on a solo homer, but the Texans again answered in the fifth. Heinrich drove in a run with a double before Slade McCloud followed with a two-run home run to right field, bringing Tarleton State within one at 8-7.
After Air Force added a run in the sixth to extend its lead to 9-7, Tarleton State stayed within striking distance. Heinrich came through once more in the eighth inning with an RBI single to score a run and make it a one-run game heading into the final frame.
Trailing by two runs in the ninth after a Falcon home run, the Texans refused to go quietly. Braden Gostisha delivered a clutch RBI double to center field to score a run, and Jake Tatom followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 10-10 and force extra innings.
Tarleton State delivered a key defensive stand in the top of the 10th, cutting down the potential go-ahead run at home plate to keep the game tied. In the bottom half, Shirey stepped to the plate and delivered a walk-off solo home run to left field to seal the comeback victory for the Texans.
On the mound, Matthew McCullough earned the win after tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief late. Tarleton State utilized a deep bullpen effort after the early scoring burst from Air Force. Jackson Elizondo provided stability out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief while allowing just three hits to help settle the game. Andrew Hardin delivered another strong outing, striking out four batters across two innings while allowing only one run.
Tarleton State completed the weekend sweep and will return to action Tuesday, traveling to Waco for a rematch against Baylor with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
