Big innings cost Tarleton at UTRGV

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EDINBURG – A seven-run fifth inning from UTRGV all but decided the game as Tarleton fell 13-2 in a seven-inning mercy rule at UTRGV Baseball Stadium Saturday evening.

UTRGV (25-18, 11-9 WAC) scored multiple runs in four different innings, with the biggest burst being seven in the fifth inning. The Texans (13-29, 6-14 WAC) plated one run in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Vaquero starting pitcher Jesus Aldaz (W, 5-3) threw 5.0 innings, working around traffic on the basepaths in three of the five innings. He allowed one run on five hits, walking three and striking out five.

Tarleton plated their lone run off Aldaz in the fifth when London Green hit an RBI single to right field that scored Corey Young to make it 4-1. Jaime Perez walked in the next at-bat to load the bases, but Kemuel Thomas-Rivera lined into a 5-4 double play to end the inning and put an end to Tarleton’s momentum.

Perez, the Edinburg native, made his return to the lineup and made an instant impact with two hits and a walk. It was his first game played since April 15 vs. St. Thomas as he returned from injury.

He and Green led the way offensively for the Texans as Green also pitched in two hits, an RBI and a walk.

UTRGV had five players with multi-hit games. Freddy Rojas Jr. finished with three hits, four RBI, four runs scored and a walk.

Tarleton starting pitcher Jake Burcham (L, 0-3) tossed 3.2 innings with four runs on six hits coming across on his watch. He struck out three and walked two.

Zach Gagnon, Zach Poe, Kyler Mentzel and Landon Cody threw in relief. Poe and Cody each threw 0.2 innings allowing no runs.

UTRGV’s big seven-run inning was helped along as the Texans committed all three of their errors in the game in that stretch.

Tarleton brought home their second and final run in the seventh inning. Zach Mesa pinch hit for Perez and hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Young.

Tarleton will try and avoid the series sweep Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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