STEPHENVILLE – The Texans claim their fifth consecutive win of the season at home over the Northern Colorado Bears on Sunday at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.
Tarleton State (6-2, 0-0 WAC) closed out the four-game series with another win over Northern Colorado (0-8, 0-0 Big Sky) with a 7-6 final.
Braydon Risley started out on the mound for the Texans, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, walking one and earning four strikeouts. Jake Storey took the bump for the Bears pitching 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and walking five.
Zach Poe (W, 1-0) got the win for the Purple and White, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up two runs on one hit, walking three and striking out one. Tanner Carter (S, 1) took the save in the ninth pitching 0.2 innings, giving up one hit, no runs, no walks and no strikeouts. Dylan Smith (L, 0-2) took the loss for the visiting team, pitching 1.0 inning, giving up three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out three.
Tarleton State claimed seven runs on nine hits. Cole Miears led the home team at the plate with a home run for his second on the season and the only double for the Texans. Tyson Drake led in stolen bases, claiming the only one of the game.
The Bears saw one double from the plate and two home runs.
The first two innings were scoreless for both sides but in the bottom of the third, Miears cranked the ball over the right center wall for the first run on the board.
The top of the fourth was kind to the visiting team with two runs to take the lead for UNC. With a runner on first, James Wright homered to left center to tally two for the Bears.
Drake walked and stole second to start the Texans off in the bottom of the fourth. Mason Hammonds walked and Miears took first after being hit at the plate to see the bases loaded. Brandon Howell walked, bringing in a run for Tarleton State to tie the game at 2-2. A ground out closed out the inning for the Purple and White, leaving three on.
In the sixth inning, Zain Zinicola singled to center field to see a runner on for Northern Colorado and a home run from Brandon Stricklin brought in two runs to see the visiting team retake the lead by two.
The Texans came in hot in the bottom of the seventh after a walk saw the home team immediately on base. Kooper Shook singled to third to put two Texans on and a single to right field from Morrison sent Howell across home plate. Crews singled up the middle to see Shook come home and tie the game up at 4-4.
In the bottom of the eighth, Miears doubled to centerfield to start the home team off strong. Howell took a hit at the plate to out a second Texan on. A pair of fly outs to right field saw Miears advance and then score to take the lead for Tarleton State. With Morrison taking first after being hit at the plate, Sergio Guerra singled to left field to see Howell take home for the Purple and White for a 6-4 score. Russell walked and Drake was hit at the plate to bring in the final run for the home team.
Northern Colorado found a bit of fight in the top of the ninth after Caden Wagner took a hit at home, a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Bears. With Carter coming in for Poe and one out on the board, Jackson Meier singled to right field to bring in the fifth run for UNC. Zinicola was next in the box and reached on fielder’s choice to see Kenny cross home to make the final score 7-6. A groundout to first closed out the game, leaving two on for Northern Colorado.
The Purple and White will be back in action on the road Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Incarnate Word.
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