EDINBURG – The Tarleton offense did not pose enough of a threat on Friday evening as they dropped the series opener to UTRGV, 8-2, at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
Tarleton (13-28, 6-13 WAC) mustered just five hits throughout the game as UTRGV (23-18, 10-9 WAC) starting pitcher Kevin Stevens (W, 6-2) hurled 5.0 innings allowing a lone run on three hits, striking out seven and walking four. Stevens combined with Ricky Gerik Jr. (S, 6) to throw the full game as Gerik tossed the final 3.0 frames allowing a run on two hits.
Tarleton starting pitcher Bryce Hackett (L, 2-6) was tagged with the loss. He threw 5.0 innings allowing four runs on seven hits to go with three strikeouts.
UTRGV scored first with a three-spot in the second inning. They singled three times and were aided by a Texan error to bring home the third run to make it 3-0.
They were led at the plate by Brett Cain who finished with three hits. Brandon Pimentel and Diego Ramirez each chipped in two hits and combined for three RBI.
Tarleton brought their first run of the game home in the fourth. London Green hit a ground-rule double to right field, Carter Dobrinski singled to left to push Green to third and Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo hit an RBI fielder’s choice to score Green.
Dobrinski made his return from injury and was in the Texan lineup for the first time since March 25 against ACU. He finished with a hit and a walk in the designated hitter spot.
UTRGV pushed two runs across in the fifth and eighth to pull away from Tarleton. A Tarleton error in each of those innings helped the Vaqueros bring a run across.
The Texans brought their other run home in the seventh when Bryan Aguilar hit an RBI double to left field that scored Corey Young, who doubled down the third base line one at-bat prior.
Zach Poe, Beau Ross and Zane Badmaev threw in relief for Tarleton. Beau Ross threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.
The two teams continue the series Saturday evening at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Tarleton is set to throw freshman RHP Jake Burcham while UTRGV will throw junior RHP Jesus Aldaz.
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