Texans split doubleheader with New Mexico State, lead series 2-1

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STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton split its Saturday doubleheader with New Mexico State, but maintains a 2-1 lead in the series heading into the final game on Sunday.

The Texans won game one of the afternoon 4-1 but fell in the doubleheader finale 8-3 behind a pair of late homeruns from the Aggies.

Game 1: Tarleton 4, New Mexico State 1

Tarleton jumped out to a 4-0 lead on New Mexico State and got a impressive pitching performance from Bryce Hackett to lead to the Saturday victory.

London Green, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI while being a triple short of the cycle. Green got the offense rolling in the second inning with a leadoff double and would later score on an Aggie error for the game’s first run.

Green followed up with his third home run of the season, a 379-foot blast to right field with the wind blowing in for a 2-0 advantage. Green’s double in the second was his team-leading 15th two-bagger of the season and he also swiped his team-high 10th stolen base.

The Texans added two more runs in the fifth with two outs. Blake Burns singled to left and Green added an RBI single to score Kemuel Thomas-Rivera. Burns would later score on an error by the Aggies’ catcher for a 4-0 lead.

Tarleton had eight hits on the game with six different Texans recording a base knock. The Aggies were held to just six hits on the day, all of which were singles.

Meanwhile on the mound, Baley worked his way out a first-inning jam as he struck out Ronnie Allen Jr. with the bases loaded to keep the game scoreless. Baley got out of trouble once again in the second as he had two on in the inning but held the Aggies scoreless once again.

Baley (5-3) went five innings to earn the win, allowing just two hits in a scoreless outing while striking out five.

AJ Wood came on in the sixth in a save situation and threw the final 1.1 innings with no runs and two strikeouts to record his ninth save of the season, which is one off the WAC lead.

Game 2: New Mexico State 8, Tarleton 3

Tarleton had to come from behind in game two of the afternoon after New Mexico State jumped out to a 3-0 lead through five innings. The Texans answered in the fifth with two runs behind a two-run double from Thomas-Rivera that scored Ian Groves and Dean Frew.

Tarleton would tie the game up at 3-3 in the sixth inning on a one-out RBI double from Groves to drive home Colby Feris. Groves and Thomas-Rivera led the Texan offense, as each player went 2-for-4 and the only RBIs of the game.

New Mexico State broke the game open in the seventh with four runs, including a three-run home run. The Aggies added a solo home run in the eighth for an 8-3 lead.

Hackett got the start for the Texans, throwing six innings and allowing just two earned runs in a no decision. He also struck out three Aggies on the day. Hunter Thomas (0-5) took the loss in relief while Zach Poe tossed a scoreless ninth inning for the Texans.

Up Next: Tarleton will look to win its third straight WAC series in the series finale with New Mexico State on Sunday, April 25 with first pitch schedules at noon at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex.

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