STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State (25-14, 5-4 WAC)used a late push to defeat California Baptist (31-9, 5-4) 7–6 on Sunday at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex, to secure the Sunday win and the series.

California Baptist struck first with a two-run second inning, but Tarleton State responded in the third when Kendyl Johnson delivered an RBI single to put the Texans on the board. The Texans tied the game in the fourth after Rayner Heinrich scored on a wild pitch to make it 2–2. 

The Lancers briefly regained the lead with a solo home run in the fifth, but Tarleton State answered again in the sixth. With runners on base, Sergio Guerra lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to even the score at 3–3 and keep momentum on the Texans' side. 

Tarleton State broke the game open in the seventh and eighth innings. Johnson delivered another RBI single to give the Texans their first lead of the afternoon, and Heinrich followed with an RBI double to extend the advantage. In the eighth, Raphael Smeenk came through with a clutch two-run double to push the lead to 7–3 and provide valuable insurance runs. 

California Baptist mounted a late rally in the ninth, scoring three runs to narrow the gap, but the Texans held on to secure the one-run victory and complete the comeback effort. 

Conner Doucet earned the win in relief after tossing a scoreless inning, improving to 3–0 on the season. Anthony Treto recorded the final two outs to secure his fifth save of the year. Zachary Yates (1-1) was charged with the loss for California Baptist.

CBU entered the weekend as the WAC leaders, and now the Texans are tied-second with CBU, along with Sacramento State, at 5-4. Utah Tech leads after the weekend at 5-1.

Tarleton State will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Texas Tech for a 6 p.m. first pitch.