- Box Score

STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton baseball team won 4-3 over the Rams of Texas Wesleyan Tuesday afternoon behind a late surge by the Texans.

The Texans (7-2)  got on the board early in the bottom of the first when third baseman Chris Casazza reached on a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a single to left by designated hitter Reagan Janda.

The Rams answered quickly however with a run of their own in the top of the second with an RBI ground-out by Texas Wesleyan's Justin Snider. 

After a goose-egg by the Texans in the bottom of the second, the visiting Rams took a 2-1 lead over Tarleton on another RBI ground-out. Tarleton trailed despite only giving up two hits through three innings.

The lead for Texas Wesleyan did not last long however, with the Texans tying the game up at 2-2 on a Nathan Hille RBI single up the middle that scored rightfielder Heath Petty. Petty had doubled to start the attack for Tarleton in the bottom of the fourth.

The next inning, the Texans took back the lead when second baseman Landon McCall singled to start the inning, then scored on a Mark Jeffery RBI double to left, making it 3-2 in Tarleton's favor.

Pitching settled in for the next couple at-bats as the Texans held on to their slight margin.

Unfortunately, the Rams were not done as they scored a run with two-outs in the top of the seventh to tie the game back up at 3-3.

Tarleton threatened in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases on three walks, but flew out to end the inning and leave the base runners stranded.

In the bottom of the eighth, Texas Wesleyan gave the game away to the Texans. McCall drew a two out walk, stole second and moved to third on the throw-out attempt. During the same at-bat by Andrew Kapple, McCall scored on a wild pitch by Rams' reliever Nolan Barbee, putting Tarleton back on top, 4-3.

With a one-run lead and the top of the ninth coming, it was time for closer Ryan Turner to shut the door. The 6-5 junior came in and set down the Texas Wesleyan batters in order, including two strike outs.

Preparing for a long weekend series at A&M-Kingsville, the Texans pitched by committee on Tuesday and switched pitchers every few innings. 

Kenneth Stockton got the start before giving way to Jake Sowell and eventually Brandon Van Riper. Stockton was charged with the first run, while Sowell picked up the second run.

Tanner Ross replaced Van Riper in the top of the fifth and Matt Shannon came in to pitch the sixth. Brandy Greer took over in the seventh. Salt relieved Greer with two outs in the seventh. Turner (3-0) then finished off the game for the Texans, and picked up the win.

Jeffery, Hille and Janda provided RBI's for Tarleton, while McCall went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. The Texans recorded six hits as a team and drew six walks. They also had seven nine more assists defensively than the Rams.