Special to The Flash
TarletonSports.com
STEPHENVILLE (March 17, 2017) – Jake Hasbrouck helped Tarleton end Friday’s doubleheader matchup on a high note against No. 27 Lubbock Christian with a walk-off two-run home run in the 12th inning. The Texans went on to split the first two games and will play the rubber match on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Five late-inning runs were the difference in the opener for Tarleton as Lubbock Christian scored two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to top the Texans.
The first half of the game was all Tarleton, as Jon Tauzin launched a two-run homer in the second inning for the early lead.
Nathan Hickey started on the mound for the Texans, and despite the no decision, Hickey tossed five innings, giving up two unearned runs on six hits to go with four strikeouts and a walk. Hickey escaped trouble with a runner at second in the second and third inning to keep the lead.
LCU’s two runs in the fifth came on a two-out error that kept the inning going with a two-run double the following play. LCU scored three runs in the sixth on four singles to lead 5-2.
Francisco Rodriguez hit a two-out solo home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn’t enough as Tarleton went down in order in the seventh inning to end the game.
The Texans were held to six hits in the opener, with Rodriguez providing the only mult-hit game, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Dylan Lemons, Garret Kizer and Jake Shelby all had a hit.
Game 2: Tarleton 5, Lubbock Christian 3 (12 innings)
Lubbock Christian jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning against the Texans, but it was the first of four lead changes throughout the game.
After surrendering the game’s first run, Tarleton starter Evan Pontley settled down on the mound and throwing seven innings, giving up seven hits and striking out seven with no walks.
Tarleton was held without a hit until the fifth inning, when Jake Hasbrouck was just starting his afternoon heroics by launching a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
Lubbock Christian answered with a solo homer of its own, only this one came in the eighth inning, leaving the Texans only six outs to come back from a 2-1 deficit.
In the bottom of the ninth, Stacy Heinatz pinch hit and led off the inning with a double to left. Heinatz advanced to third on a groundout by Blake Adams, which set up Francisco Rodriguez to drive in Heinatz with a one-out single to right field and send the game to extras.
Both teams escaped the tenth inning, and in the eleventh LCU regained the lead after a pair of walks lead to the Chaparrals drive in a run on a single up the middle for a 3-2 lead.
The Texans had runners at first and third in the 11th with one out, setting up a bizarre play that went in the home team’s favor. Francisco Rodriguez lined out to right field, giving the Texans two outs and Jake Shelby was sent home on the sacrifice. However, Blake Adams was thrown out at first after the catch, but since it wasn’t a force play at first base, Shelby was able to score before the third out was made and tie the game and move to the 12th inning.
Hunter Houston, who got his first victory of the season in relief, made quick work of LCU in the top half of the 12th. Houston threw 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and only allowed two base runners.
With the heart of the order up for Tarleton, Dylan Lemons lined a one-out single to left to set the scene for Hasbrouck. Hasbrouck crushed a pitch to right center field for his second homer of the game and the last one being the game-winner. Hasbrouck finished the game 2-for-4 wit two runs scored and three RBI.
The Texans had seven hits in the game, with Adams, Rodriguez, Lemons, Kizer and Heinatz all recording hits.
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