AUSTIN, Texas – Tarleton State suffered its first loss in the double elimination NCAA Regional in Austin, dropping a 16-2 game at the 1-seed No. 6 Texas Longhorns.
The 3-seed Texans (38-20) walked 17 Longhorns (42-13) in Saturday night's battle of 1-0 NCAA Regional teams at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the most walks allowed by the Texans in a game in program history (16 vs. Sul Ross State on April 1, 1988). Tarleton State will now face UC Santa Barbara again in the NCAA Austin Regional, this time in an elimination game on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. The winner of that will advance to the Regional Final to play against Texas on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Like Friday and Saturday, Tarleton State will host another pregame tailgate in the same location, just outside the left field wall with limited drinks and food provided, while supplies last. Fans can bring their own food and drinks, as well. The tailgate will start at 9:30 a.m.
With Saturday's loss, Tarleton State is now 3-9 all-time in NCAA Regional games, and 1-1 in NCAA Regional games in its D1 era. The Texans had their four-game winning streak snapped and dropped their first postseason game of the year, falling to 4-1 (3-0 at WAC Tournament). The Texans and Longhorns are 1-1 against each other this season, with Tarleton State winning 6-1 at No. 2 Texas on March 17 and Texas winning Saturday night's game.
Texas led 12-0 after the first four innings, drawing 13 of its 17 walks on the game in the first four frames. The Longhorns led 1-0 after the first, then hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the second to jump out to a 5-0 lead. After hitting a solo shot in the third, Texas scored five runs in the fourth without recording a hit, inducing eight walks. The Longhorns added three in the sixth and one in the eighth.
Raphael Smeenk drove in Tarleton State's runs in the seventh with a two RBI double.
Rayner Heinrich went 2-for-4 on the day, plus
Cage McCloud and
Sergio Guerra added hits, as well.
Tarleton State's
Ethan Wendel (6-4) suffered the loss, the Texans' first team loss in his last seven starts. Wendel allowed six earned runs on five hits, three walks and a hit by pitch, with four strikeouts, in two innings.
Ashton Bassett allowed five earned runs on two hits and six walks, with two strikeouts, in 1.1 IP.
Andrew Hardin allowed an earned run on four walks before leaving with an injury.
Conner Doucet allowed no runs in 1.2 IP, on two walks.
Corbin Walter went an inning, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk.
Jack Lovin allowed one earned run on one hit in two innings of work.
Carter Coffin worked the ninth, allowing no runs on one hit with a strikeout.
Texas' Dylan Volantis improved to 9-1, allowing one earned run on three hits, one walk and one hit by pitch, striking out seven in 6.2 IP.
There were 8,276 fans in attendance at Saturday's game, the third largest crowd in UFCU Disch-Falk Field history in a non-exhibition game.
