- Box Score
SAN ANTONIO – The Tarleton baseball team took on fourth-ranked Central Missouri Thursday down in San Antonio in V.J. Keefe Stadium and rallied to tie the game in the ninth, but the Mules took the victory with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
The Texans got off to a fast start with Landon McCall leading off the game with a single to short. He then moved to second on a balk before stealing third. With two outs, designated hitter Travis Hayes hit a roller to the pitcher and beat the throw for an RBI single, giving Tarleton a 1-0 lead.
Tarleton starter Ryan Salt used his veteran presence to get ahead early on batters and cruised through the first two innings, allowing just two base runners that never led to any damage for the Mules.
The Texans threatened in the top of the third by loading the bases with just one out. Central Missouri was able to get a dribbler back to the pitcher, but Tim Rainey beat the throw at first and kept the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Tarleton would not be able to take advantage and headed into the bottom of the third with a 1-0 lead.
The Mules were able to tie the game up in the bottom of the third when Central Missouri's Nick DeBiasse stroked an RBI single to left after a Tarleton error that would have ended the inning.
After reliever Nathan Lewis took over for Salt in the fifth, Central Missouri loaded the bases before plating the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left. The play did result in a double play however, which helped Tarleton escape the inning without any further damage. Lewis managed to strikeout the Mules best hitter DeBiasse on three straight strikes, sending the game into the sixth with the Texans trailing 2-1.
Time began to be a factor for Tarleton as the teams entered the final two innings with the Mules still ahead by a run.
The Texans put were able to get two runners on in the eighth, but they were once again left stranded as Tarleton pushed their runners stranded total to 10 for the game.
The lead-off batter Andrew Kapple singled to right to start the inning, and was then replaced by pinch runner Heath Petty with the tying run now standing on first. McCall moved the runner over with a sacrifice bunt, putting Petty in scoring position for Ethan Stuckly, who was 0-for-4 entering the at-bat.
Stuckly chose an opportune time to get his first hit of the game and he bounced an RBI single to center, tying the game up at 2-2 for the Texans.
Central Missouri had just three outs to put just one run across the plate if they wanted to remain in the winner's bracket. Things looked good for the Mules and bad for the Texans as the No. 2 seed Central Missouri loaded the bases with just one out. That is when the No. 9 hitter for the Mules stepped up and hit a clutch RBI single just out of the reach of Tarleton first baseman Garrett Hardey, driving in the winning run for UCM.
The Texans dropped game one 3-2 and now face the loser of St. Mary's/Incarnate Word at 12 p.m. on Friday.
Tarleton reliever Ryan Turner (0-1) suffered the loss for the Texans after giving up the deciding run in the ninth.
Central Missouri reliever Travis Unthank (1-0) picked up the win for the Mules with three strong innings in relief.
Head coach Bryan Conger talked about his team's efforts after the game.
“It was a great college baseball game,” said Conger. “Hats off to Central Missouri. I'm really proud of our guys, the way they battled and competed. We had some opportunities, but were unable to take advantage. We just have to show up and be ready to play tomorrow though and do what we do.”
Salt talked about facing such a dangerous Mule offense.
“We battled hard, but just didn't quite execute,” said Salt. “I never changed my approach. It's always attack, attack, attack and we were able to put pressure on the hitters. I knew they had a good offense, but I just wanted to keep them on their heels.”
Stuckly, who got the game tying hit, expressed his disappointment in the loss.
“We played a good game, but just didn't come through,” said Stuckly. “I got a good look on an inside pitch in the ninth and got a good swing on it. We have to be ready to come out tomorrow though, because we still have to compete.”
Tarleton will get another shot at either the tournament hosts St. Mary's or Incarnate Word, who knocked the Texans out of the Lone Star Conference tournament last week.
For more information regarding the 2011 Tarleton baseball postseason, check out TarletonSports.com.
