SAN ANTONIO – Tarleton State snapped the Cardinals win streak after a hot day at the plate Tuesday.
Tarleton State (7-2, 0-0 WAC) added another to the win column after the matchup against Incarnate Word (7-2, 0-0 SLC) with a 15-10 final at the home site for the Cardinals for the Texans sixth consecutive win.
Devon Patel took the bump for the Purple and White, pitched 2.0 innings, giving up three runs on two hits, one walk and earning one strike. Grant Garza (W, 2-0) claimed the win with 1.0 inning pitched, no runs, no hits, no walks and one strikeout. Micah Berens (L, 1-1) was the starting pitcher for the Cardinals, pitching 2.0 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits, two walks and three strikeouts to take the loss.
The Purple and White amassed 15 runs on 15 hits. The visiting team had four doubles with help from Mason Hammonds, Trace Morrison, Hunter Smith and Kooper Shook. Brandon Howell earned his fourth homer of the season with a three-run home run in the ninth.
The Cardinals had 10 runs on nine hits with three doubles and three home runs.
The Texans got straight to business at the plate with seven runs to open the game. A double to right center from Hammonds brought in the first run with only the second Texan at the plate. A bunt single from Howell pushed Hammonds into scoring position and Cole Miears was walked to see the bases loaded. A single to left field from Morrison saw Hammonds come home. Howell crossed the plate next on a passed ball. The next run came from Miears on a muffed throw from the catcher. Shook singled up the middle to bring Morrison home and after a single to the right side, Shirey stole second, and Shook stole home to tally seven on the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the home team found their footing, putting up three runs. A walk saw the first runner on for UIW. Another Cardinal reached on an error and a second was hit to load the bases. A double to the left side brought in two unearned runs to get Incarnate Word on the board. The last run of the inning came on a single to right field for a four-run deficit for the home team.
The bottom of the third saw two Cardinals on after a single to center field and a hit by pitch at the plate. A passed ball saw two runners advance into scoring position. With a pair of runners on, a pop up to center field saw UIW tally another run.
Shirey was first on base after being hit at the plate and a single to right center placed Shirey at third. Hammonds singled to right field to bring Shirey home.
In the sixth, a double down the line saw the first Cardinal on, followed by a homer over the right field wall brought in two runs for UIW. With JD Gregson at the plate, Sergio Guerra made an incredible foul ball catch, flying into the dugout with the ball secured in his glove for the second out on the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Shook doubled to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Guerra. Shirey singled down the right field line to send Shook home for the Texans and tally the ninth run for a 9-6 score.
The top of the eighth started with a single up the middle from Hammonds and another single up the middle to see Hammonds at third. Trace Morrison had a groundout to bring Hammonds in and tally the 10th run for Tarleton State.
The Cardinals brought the heat in the eighth with a three-run homer from Gregson to see the game at a one-run deficit at 10-9.
The Texans found some fire of their own in the ninth as four guys walked to add another run for Tarleton State. A sacrifice fly from Hammonds sent Guerra home. With Slade McCloud and Shirey each stealing a bag, Howell cranked out his fourth homer of the season for a three-run home run to secure a 15th run for the Purple and White.
A homer from Grant Randall earned the last run for the Cardinals to see the game finish with a 15-10 final.
Tarleton State will be back on the road for a four-game series against Central Arkansas. The series will kick off on Friday at 2 p.m. The Texans will see a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. and the second game will take place at 7 p.m. presumably. The series will end with a Sunday matchup at 1 p.m.
Be the first to comment